Bond diva Dame Shirley Bassey survives emergency landing in good spirits

Her helicopter had just been forced to make an emergency landing in a school field in awful weather - reports the Daily Mail.

But Dame Shirley Bassey had more down-to-earth considerations on her mind than her brush with danger.

As the singer of Hey Big Spender stepped from the helicopter in a yellow raincoat and diamantecovered wellingtons, she asked locals where she could find the nearest loo.

One resident let her into their home, and a few minutes later she emerged back on to the street where she happily posed for photos.

Dame Shirley's unexpected pitstop came as the 70-year-old flew home to London after performing at the Glastonbury Festival on Sunday.

Her pilot, property magnate Jeremy Paxton, had been heading for Battersea heliport, but while flying over Surrey low cloud and torrential rain made the visibility too poor for them to continue.

He made hasty plans to divert to the exclusive Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot. But as the weather worsened, he had to land at Collingwood Sixth Form College in nearby Camberley.

Tina Yeomans, 42, who lives opposite the school, heard the sound of rotor blades and dashed into her conservatory, where she looked up to see pilot Mr Paxton flying over her roof, so close she could "almost shake his hand".

"I thought he was going to land on the roof, you could tell he was having trouble," said Mrs Yeomans, whose family had earlier watched Dame Shirley's Glastonbury performance on TV.

After bringing the helicopter to rest Mr Paxton got out to ask where he was.

Dame Shirley then appeared, laughing and waving to onlookers who had gathered to find out what was going on.

One resident, Rosella Tew, 68, said: "She asked us, 'Do any of you live in these houses?' and I said Yes and offered to make her a cup of tea.

"But she said, 'I don't need a cup of tea - I need the bathroom' and she went to the house of one of my neighbours.

"After using the loo, she posed for pictures with us. She held my hand for a photo.

"I always expect these big stars to be all snooty but she wasn't, she was so lovely.

A short while later a limousine which had been sent from the hotel arrived. Dame Shirley then continued her journey to London by car.

Mr Paxton had offered her a lift in his helicopter because he was going to Glastonbury anyway.

The qualified commercial pilot said: "The trip down was fine but it was obvious that the weather was getting worse.

"As we approached the hotel I knew there was not enough time to guarantee a safe arrival. I saw a sports field ahead and decided to land there."

He added: "There was not one point where I felt remotely concerned. Safety is paramount when flying and I am always aware of what impact the weather may have.

"If I had not decided to divert, there could have been a situation where there were multiple fatalities.

"I am not willing to put anybody's life at risk, whether it be a Dame or any other passenger."

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