A parachutist was yesterday killed in a freefall training jump, police said.

The man has not been named but is in his early 30s. It is understood that he is from West Yorkshire.

He was training with the Merlin the Merlin Parachute School at Allenbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, when the accident happened at 5.30pm on Saturday.

A police spokesman said: "A male believed to be in his early thirties wastraining with the Merlin Parachute School who unfortunately died during a freefall training jump.

"The matter is being investigated on behalf of the coroner."