The two-seater aircraft came down close to the A46 near Warwick at about 1800 BST, Warwickshire Police said.

Passing drivers alerted emergency services and the men, who have not been named, were confirmed dead at the scene.

The two-seater helicopter had taken off from Wellesbourne airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon.

We cordoned off the area because the debris was spread over the field

Noel Harris, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said the helicopter crashed in a field, behind a Little Chef restaurant, in Hampton Magna.

Incident commander Noel Harris said the accident left debris over a wide area.

"There was absolutely nothing we could do, unfortunately, for the gentlemen," Mr Harris said.

"Our main concern was the scene preservation - we cordoned off the area because the debris was spread over the field."

Next of kin

A spokesman for Warwickshire Ambulance Service said one of the men on board the helicopter, a Robinson 22, was around 35-years-old and the other was aged about 45.

They will not be identified until next of kin have been informed.

A police spokesman said the Civil Aviation Authority had been informed about the accident.

An eyewitness said he saw the helicopter explode in the air before crashing near the restaurant, into a field yards from the A46 dual carriageway.

The man, who was walking his dog through nearby fields, said: "There was debris all over the car park."