Helicopter crashes into crane in Vauxhall, LondonA helicopter has crashed into a crane at a building site in central London.
Police said it appeared the helicopter had hit the crane on top of a building at about 08:00 GMT. They said it was too early to confirm any casualties.
London Fire Brigade said the crash happened near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. They said more than 60 firefighters were at the scene.
Burning wreckage lay in the road, with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed.
The fire brigade was also attending a second scene involving a crane in a precarious position on St George's Wharf.
Police said they first received calls at 08:00 GMT and the London Ambulance Service said it was also at the scene.
'Enormous bang'
Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground".
He said: "The building the helicopter hit is shrouded in mist."
He said the crane at the top of the building was now hanging down the side of the building.
Eyewitness Chris Matthison: "There was an unusual buzzing sound and a dull thud"
Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, witnessed the crash.
"I was walking towards Vauxhall tube station from Lambeth Palace area where I have a flat," she said.
"There was suddenly an enormous bang - I thought something exploded.
"It was coming from beyond Vauxhall tube station.
"Then clouds and clouds of black smoke.
"I presumed what it was I heard was the crane collapsing or the helicopter crashing into it.
'Huge smoke cloud'
"I heard the bang then saw the clouds of smoke but there was too much in the way to see much at that point."
Some witnesses reported the wreckage hitting two cars.
Witnesses reported seeing debris on the ground.
Quinn Murray was cycling when he saw the crash.
He said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station.
"There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area.
"There's a huge number of emergency services."
Commuter Sherna Noah described seeing a "large plume of dark grey smoke" as she crossed Battersea Bridge at about 08:00 GMT.
She said: "I was coming across the bridge and basically I could see a few cyclists on the bridge looking towards the water.
"I looked over to see what they were looking at and could see a pall of grey smoke coming from the south side.
"You could see a large plume of dark grey smoke."
The BBC's Ross Hawkins said Wandsworth Road near Vauxhall station is closed.
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