RAF and police have this morning begun to recover the bodies of two people who died when a military helicopter crashed near Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

The Puma helicopter, which plummeted into a field near woodland close to the hamlet of Brokes at about 9pm last night, was from RAF Benson, in Oxfordshire, and had on board three RAF crew and nine Army personnel.

Two people were confirmed dead at the scene and ten were taken to hospitals in Darlington, Middlesbrough, Northallerton and Newcastle with injuries ranging from serious to minor. It is not yet known whether any of the casualties were from the north.

Recovery of the bodies is expected to be completed by about 1pm.