Video: Body thought to be British tourist found in New Zealand wreck of helicopter that went missing 8 years ago

Police in New Zealand are conducting DNA tests on a body they believe is British tourist Hannah Timings, from Gloucestershire, after finding the wreckage of a helicopter which went missing eight years ago.

The wreckage of the helicopter, carrying Ms Timings, 28, from Cheltenham, and local pilot Campbell Montgomerie, 27, was found in Fiordland, a remote part of the country on the South Island, on Wednesday.

Police said the helicopter was the Hughes 500 that went missing in 2004. An extensive two-week search at the time failed to turn up any sign of the missing aircraft.

The wreckage was spotted in rugged terrain at the edge of the original search area by another helicopter pilot.

Police said they had recovered two bodies and were hoping to formally identify them by using DNA samples.

They said the families had been told and officers hoped the discovery would bring some closure.

PA