Memorial services held for helicopter crash crew

A community memorial service has taken place for three members of the Royal Navy who died in a helicopter crash.

Lt Cdr Chris Gayson, 42, Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, died in the crash on Wednesday, in Sourton, near Okehampton, Devon.

A special mass was held at the All Saints Church, in Okehampton, on Sunday afternoon. The three crew were based at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset.

The service was organised by Reverend Claire Reynolds who said the "tragic" incident had hit the community "hard" and there was a great sense of "sadness" in the town. Services have been held at other churches in Devon and Somerset.

Reynolds said the service was "mainly prayers and bible readings" and a moment of quiet for people to reflect.

She said candles were lit "in memory of those who died".

She said a book of condolence would be opened on Monday at St James's Chapel, Okehampton, with the aim to present it to the "Navy or to the families, whatever is appropriate".

"It's hit them hard - I know from having been around the town this week that there is a lot of sadness.

"They have very close links with the forces. There's been a training camp here for a couple of hundred years so they feel those links and they are very sad at what's happened."

Elsewhere, tributes were paid at a service at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church, in Yeovilton, Somerset.

There were also community services at three Devon churches, St Mary's Belstone, and St Petroc's Inwardleigh, both in the Okehampton area, and St Thomas a Becket, Sourton.

Floral tributes were placed outside All Saints Church, in Okehampton.

Earlier in the week the families all paid tribute, while the military described the crew as "deeply capable and professional aviators" and "cherished members" of the Commando Helicopter Force.

The King said he was "profoundly shocked" and held the three service personnel "in the highest regard".

The Princess of Wales in her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, as well as the head of the Royal Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also all paid tribute.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.