A HELICOPTER has crashed into the North Sea off the East Yorkshire coast, leaving two men dead, police have confirmed.

The bodies were recovered from the crash scene near Flamborough at about 5pm, Humberside Police said.

The Northern Echo understands the helicopter was travelling from a private site in Livingston, Scotland to Humberside, and reports that it left Durham Tees Valley Airport are incorrect. 

A spokesman for the airport said: "Reports that the helicopter involved in the incident at Flamborough this afternoon originated from Durham Tees Valley Airport are incorrect.

"Air traffic control at Durham Tees Valley did handle the flight, which it is believed originated in Scotland, whilst in local airspace. Subsequently the pilot of the aircraft contacted air traffic control to state that he had landed at a private site and was then proceeding to Humberside Airport."

The private site is believed to be Ness Point, near Lowestoft, Suffolk.

It is understood weather conditions may have deteriorated  at the time.

Police, coastguard and ambulance service were called to the scene of the accident, which happened at about 1.40pm.

A Humberside Police spokesperson said the incident did not involve a police helicopter.

A statement released by police said: "Police received a call from a concerned member of public reporting a helicopter having crashed into the sea off the coast near Flamborough at around 1340 hours today.

"Police, coastguard and ambulance service attended the area right away and a search was carried out which resulted in the helicopter being located in the sea off the coast of Flamborough near the lighthouse.

"An area has been cordoned off while the emergency services and coast guard continue their work.

"Initial inquiries are being made in order to try and establish the circumstances which led to the helicopter coming down."

Members of the public have been asked to stay away from the site of the crash due to dangerous cliff edges and aviation fuel in the water.

According to the Bridlington Free Press, a helicopter got into difficulties at around 1.30pm.

Chris Feast, from Flamborough Head Golf Club, said a number of golfers had spotted a helicopter trying to land near the 17th green and then reported hearing a "loud bang and crash".

The Bridlington Lifeboat was launched at 1.59pm.

Eye-witness Chris Palmer said he heard a loud "crack" and the helicopter disappeared out of sight behind the cliffs.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We heard the helicopter. It was like a white, private helicopter going along the coast.

"We all heard this really loud crack and looked up again.

"The helicopter started to descend, almost like a plane when it lands.

"It then went behind the cliff and that's when I called the emergency services.

"I never actually heard it hit the sea."

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokeswoman said they received a call at 1.39pm reporting that a helicopter had crashed into a cliff at Flamborough.

She said an air ambulance, an ambulance, rapid response vehicles and the RAF all attended the scene.

The small helicopter was believed to be returning to Humberside Airport when it crashed, a spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

The spokesman said: "The Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a call at 13.40 this afternoon that a small helicopter had gone into the water below the cliff, between the lighthouse and Flamborough Head golf course.

"A coastguard officer was winched down to assess the crash site by the search and rescue helicopter from Leconfield."

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Air Ambulance confirmed they also had a crew at the scene.

A spokeswoman for the RNLI said two lifeboats had been launched - from Flamborough and Bridlington - and had searched the area. A short video of their search was later released.

Flamborough RNLI crew member Cole Ibbotson said: 'We could see the wreckage of the helicopter at the bottom of the cliff and could see where it had hit.

"The swell was too big for the lifeboat to get in close so we were tasked to undertake a search pattern for wreckage with Bridlington all-weather lifeboat. We recovered a number of items which we have passed on to the police.

"We are all devastated that this service didn't have a positive outcome and that we couldn't help the people on board the helicopter. Our thoughts and sympathy are very much with their family and friends tonight."