The deceased, believed to be male, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash close to the village of Kingscott near Torrington, North Devon.

A second person, who is in a "life-threatening condition", was airlifted to North Devon District Hospital, South West Ambulance Service said.

The Squirrel aircraft came down in fields. Two rescue helicopters, from RMB Chivenor in north Devon and Portland Coastguard in Dorset, and the Devon Air Ambulance were sent to the crash site, Swansea coastguard said.

A spokesman said there were only two people on board the helicopter when it crashed.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We arrived at the scene at about 4pm.

"There were two people involved. One is deceased and the other is in a life-threatening condition and was flown to North Devon District Hospital."

She said the helicopter from RMB Chivenor was believed to be the first at the scene and an ambulance was on site "within minutes".

Devon and Cornwall Police said there was no damage to any buildings but roads in the area had been closed.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "Power lines have been brought down in the area and some homes will have lost power. It is too early to say if the power lines being lost are the cause of the aircraft coming down."