Southend Airport welcomed a rare visitor at the weekend when a large oil spill response aircraft landed at the airport.
The Boeing 727 aircraft G-OSRB - operated by 2Excel Aviation on behalf of Oil Spill Response Limited - has been specially converted to respond to oil spills in the oceans anywhere in the world.
After landing at Southend on Sunday afternoon, it has been announced the airport will be used as the aircraft's new operational base, alongside fellow oil spill response aircraft G-OSRA.
An Oil Spill Response spokesman said: "LSA [London Southend Airport] was carefully chosen for its unique provision of side-by-side hangarage.
"This feature will ensure that our aircraft remain protected from the elements, maintaining the highest levels of serviceability and performance."