FEARS are growing tonight for the safety of former world rally champion Colin McRae, following a helicopter crash.

Police in Lanarkshire, Scotland, said the private aircraft crashed just after 4pm this afternoon.

At least two people were believed to be aboard but their bodies have not been formerly identified.

The crash happened just a few miles from McRae's home and unconfirmed reports tonight said the helicopter was registered in his name.

McRae, who won the World Rally Championship for Subaru and in doing so became Britain's first world rally champion, holds a pilots licence to fly helicopters.

Colin was the most successful of a rally driving dynasty.

His father Jimmy campaigned an Opel Manta with great success during the 1980s and his younger brother Alister also drove in the world series.