Three dead and one injured in helicopter crash

Three people have died and one person has been seriously injured after a helicopter being used for a flying lesson “spiralled” to the ground and crashed in a field on the Isle of Wight.

Four people were on board the helicopter when it came down beside the A3020 near Shanklin at about 09:20 BST, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

One person was airlifted to the major trauma centre at University Hospital Southampton, where they remain in a serious condition, as police launched a major incident in response to the crash.

Operator Northumbria Helicopters said its aircraft had departed from Sandown Airport about 20 minutes before it came down.