Two dead after plane crashes in fields near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire

Police said the light aircraft came down near Castle Howard on Saturday

Emergency services said the plane crashed in fields between Mains Lane and the A64 in Whitwell, North Yorkshire, on 30 April 2016 (Google Maps)

Two men have died in a plane crash in North Yorkshire.

Police said a pilot and passenger were on board the light aircraft, which came down near Castle Howard on Saturday morning.

Emergency services are at the scene in the Ryedale area, a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said.

"Police received a number of calls from members of the public at around 10.40am on the morning of Saturday 30 April 2016," a spokesperson said.

"There are believed to be two casualties on board.

"Roads in the area have been closed to allow emergency services to deal with the incident and members of the public are advised to keep away from the area."

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said around 20 firefighters were on the scene and had put a foam blanket in place around the aircraft in case it catches fire.

A spokesperson for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it sent an air ambulance, ambulance and rapid response vehicle to the scene off Mains Lane, in Whitwell.