A Merlin helicopter from RNAS Culdrose has been forced to make an emergency landing in a field close to the car park at the Minack theatre near Porthcurno, in West Cornwall.

Whilst carrying out a routine sortie the aircrew noticed a minor fault.

As a precautionary measure they decided to land in a field earlier than planned, purely to be on the safe side.

A spokesman for RNAS Culdrose said this afternoon: "At no time was the crew in any danger, likewise any member of the public.

"The squadron are liaising direct with the landowner to effect a speedy recovery of the aircraft back to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, once the fault has been diagnosed and rectified."