Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes outside King Power stadium

Photos showed a huge fireball, while witnesses told Sky Sports News the helicopter took off from the pitch at about 8.30pm but lost control within a few seconds and crashed into car park E - the club's staff car park which is about 200 yards from the stadium.

Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett said: "At about 8:30 this evening, eye witnesses told me they saw the Leicester City owners' helicopter take off from the pitch inside the King Power stadium - as it does after every home game - and after a few seconds it appeared to lose control.

"It sounds as if there was a problem with the rear tail propeller which sent it spinning out of control and it crashed into the car park at the rear of the King Power Stadium, just a few hundred metres away from where the pitch is, before it burst into flames."

It is not clear who was on board or their conditions.

After every home game about 20 dignitaries are taken away from the stadium in the helicopter.

Many fans had left the stadium at the time of the incident but those who were still nearby were seen running away as the aircraft crashed.

Police said: "We are dealing with an incident in the vicinity of the King Power Stadium. Emergency services are aware and dealing."

Leicester chairman and owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was at the helm when the club shocked the football world by winning the 2015-16 Premier League title.

The crash happened more than an hour after the game finished following a 5.30pm kick-off in which Leicester City drew 1-1 with West Ham.

Leicester City fan John Butcher told Sky Sports News: "We were facing the ground from the bar across the road, I was with my nephew, we saw the helicopter spinning and it crashed within seconds then burst into flames.

"Our hearts go out to whoever was onboard. The Srivaddhanaprabha family means everything to Leicester, they made us champions, you can't ask for more from owners - they won the league for us."

With reporting from IRN. More follows...