Three die in helicopter crash

A helicopter crashed just moments after take-off yesterday, killing all three men on board.

The commercial helicopter ploughed into the ground after its rear rotor blade made contact with trees, a spokesman for Hereford and Worcester ambulance service said. The accident happened in the hamlet of Parkway, near Ledbury, Hereford and Worcester, yesterday evening.

The helicopter is believed to be a Bell Jet Ranger belonging to European Air Charter Ltd, based at Bournemouth International Airport, Hampshire.