A LARGE crowd gathered to watch the first seaplane landing at Calshot for many years.

But the pilot was unable to land the plane due to the choppy waters - despite making several fly-pasts during a 20 minute display.

The amphibious Cessna Caravan 208 - officially known as a floatplane - was due to touch down in the sea off Calshot today ahead of World Water Day on Thursday.

But the sea proved too rough for a landing and the event has now been pushed back until tomorrow.

For many years Calshot was home to a seaplane base that is now Calshot Activities Centre. Some of the hangars and slipways are still in use.

Owned and operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) the Cessna is visiting the UK for a short time before embarking on lifesaving work in Bangladesh.

MAF, the world’s largest humanitarian airline, MAF flies to more than 1,500 remote locations in 26 developing countries, delivering vital aid to locations accessible only by air.

The Cessna's planned trip to Calshot aims to provide the public with a rare opportunity to witness a floatplane landing and learn more about MAF’s lifesaving work.