Rescue helicopters in the North of England have been grounded following safety concerns.

Both of the Yorkshire Air Ambulances and one of the Great North Air Ambulances are out of action after a potential fault was found in the McDonnell Douglas 902 series, which are also used by five police forces and helicopter ambulance services in London, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

Last week, the Great North Ambulance twice airlifted members of Patterdale Moutain Rescue teams to incidents in the Lake District, and took casualties to hospital.

It is thought an internal fan system in the tail of the aircraft belonging to the London Air Ambulance developed a fault. All 902s have been stopped from carrying out services as a result.

The helicopters will be examined at the leasing company in Gloucestershire before they are allowed back into service.

Search-and-rescue helicopters belonging to the RAF, Royal Navy and Coastguard are not affected.