Missing helicopter sought by police

Police in the UK were today following up reports of a helicopter missing with four people on board.

Officials at Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton, Cheltenham, contacted police to voice their fears about a flight which took off early yesterday morning en route to Torbay, Devon.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We received a call at 3.54pm yesterday to say a helicopter with four occupants had gone missing.

“We are still investigating the incident.”

There were also unconfirmed reports of a “loud bang” after a helicopter flew over the Taunton area.

A number of flying schools operate from the Stavertion airport, several of which offer helicopter flights.