POLICE have confirmed that three people have been taken to hospital following a helicopter crash at Churchfields Industrial Estate in Salisbury.

The civilian aircraft crashed into trees in Stephenson Road at about 9.40am.

Speaking at the scene, Sgt Sean Brady of Wiltshire Police, said: “We have had a civilian aircraft crash into the ground behind the council tip on the Churchfields Industrial Estate.

“There have been three casualties from the aircraft. Two have been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital, one is being taken by ambulance to Salisbury District Hospital.

“The scene is being secured by the fires service and we are awaiting the arrival of the air accident investigation branch.”

Sgt Brady said the aircraft didn’t catch fire and there was no chemical leakage into the river.

No further details are available on the injuries suffered by those on board the aircraft.

Eyewitness Brian Voce of Voce’s coal merchants, in Stepehenson Road, said: “I saw the whole thing out of my office window.

“The helicopter was hovering over by the trees and it seemed like the pilot was trying to find somewhere to land.

“He started to come down but the ground there is very uneven.

“It went out of control and crashed into the trees.

“Luckily the people managed to get out before it flipped over.

“It toppled over and the blades went into the ground. It was all mangled – there’s not much of it left.”

Mr Voce and other people living and working nearby rushed to the scene to see if they could help.

Emergency services were on the scene within minutes and all three casualties were taken to hospital at about 10.45am.