Major search involving two helicopters after reports of parachutist hitting pylon

Firefighters and a paramedic officer watched Wiltshire Air Ambulance search a field near Chippenham

Dozens of emergency services personnel from across the county have been involved in a major search operation tonight.

It follows more than one report to 999 claiming they witnessed a parachutist coming down on a pylon close to Sutton Benger, near Chippenham, at around 7pm.

Both the police helicopter and Wiltshire Air Ambulance were sent to the scene, but despite a coordinated search of pylons and fields between Swindon and Chippenham, no casualty was found.

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The last location checked was a field in Kington St Michael, where fire crews from Swindon (x2), Chippenham (x2), Trowbridge (x2) were all in attendance lining a country road near the M4 underpass.

Fire engines and vans from across the Wiltshire lined a pitch-black country lane near Chippenham

Emergency services were stood down at around 8.15pm following the hour-long search.

Wiltshire Police is asking anyone with information to contact them immediately by calling 101 and quoting log 284 of today.

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