LONDON: Four people are believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash in eastern England on Tuesday, police said.

Norfolk Police said in a statement that they were dealing with a single helicopter crash in the Cley area, on the North Norfolk coast.

"There are believed to be four fatalities," added the statement. Officers have cordoned off a 400 metre area around the accident site.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution earlier revealed that it had been asked for three lifeboats to respond to reports that an aircraft may have ditched in the sea.

"Lifeboats Wells, Sheringham and Cromer were launched at the request of the coastguard but were stood down when it was confirmed that the aircraft had come down over land," said a spokesman.

Britain is suffering from a spell of stormy weather and high winds, but the west of the country has borne the brunt of the rough conditions. (AFP)

SOURCE: AFP