Four killed in helicopter crash

Emergency services were called to the crash scene by a farmer

Four people have died in a helicopter crash in bad weather in Cumbria.

The civilian helicopter was found at Sill Field Farm in Gatebeck, near Kendal, on Saturday morning.

Police said the helicopter had taken off from Carnforth, Lancashire, at about 1900 BST on Friday bound for Lochmaben, near Lockerbie, in Scotland.

A search operation involving police, coastguards, mountain rescue teams and an RAF helicopter was mounted when the helicopter failed to arrive.

Police pinpointed its position using signals from the passengers' mobile phones, but by that time a farm worker had spotted the crashed aircraft.

He alerted emergency services at 1122 BST.

A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said two bodies were found in the helicopter and two were in a field nearby.

He said the area had experienced heavy rain and strong winds on Friday night.

The area has been cordoned off by police and firefighters from Kendal and Milnthorpe stations.

Officers from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have begun a crash investigation at the site.

It is understood that the aircraft is a four-seat Robinson 44 light helicopter.