Police have warned that the number of people killed when a police helicopter crashed into a busy Glasgow pub will rise in the "coming hours" after confirming one death.
The Chief Constable of Police Scotland said they were now dealing with a "search and recovery operation" after rescue teams worked through the night to try to pull people from the wreckage of The Clutha Vaults pub.
But he said they were still hoping to find survivors alive in the remains of the building.
According to Sky News sources at least six people died after the helicopter crashed through the roof of the lively city nightspot, which was packed with more than 100 people listening to a band, at 10.25pm on Friday.
Firefighters on the roof of the pub Eyewitnesses have described the helicopter "falling like a stone" on to the roof, while some have suggested that there was a problem with the aircraft's rota.
Grace MacLean, who had been inside the pub when the helicopter struck, told Sky News: "Someone started shouting and the band cut the music ... and then all of a sudden this cloud of dust came.
"You couldn't breathe for inhaling a mouthful of dust. You couldn't see anything. You were clawing at the walls to see where the exit is."
Those who helped at the scene told how they worked to form a human chain to carry unconscious people out of the pub.
Among them was Labour's international development spokesman Jim Murphy, who told Sky News: "I just saw dozens and dozens of people coming out of the pub. It is a horrible, horrible scene."
The scene of the rescue operation on Friday night Speaking at a news conference on Saturday morning, Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said: "Sadly at this time I can confirm one fatality. We expect that number to increase over the coming hours."
He confirmed that a further 32 people had been taken to Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Western Infirmary with "multiple injuries".
Sir Stephen said that specialist teams were working to stabilise the building in a "difficult and sensitive" operation and said: "We're still in a search and recovery phase, and as always our prayers are that it is successful and we do recover people alive.
He said: "There are people on the scene trying to make contact with anyone who may be alive... All we can do is confirm there has been one fatality but we are fearful there will be more."
Rescue teams had said they had contacted people inside the pub overnight but Sir Stephen could not say when the last contact had been made.
Those inside the pub gather outside after the crash Pic: Paul Agnew One worried relative at the scene of the crash, Alice Healy, told Sky News how she had not heard from her cousin who had been inside the pub when the aircraft hit.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is a black day for Glasgow and Scotland but it's also St Andrew's Day and it's a day we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy."
He praised the "instinctive bravery of ordinary Glaswegians" who went to the rescue of those trapped inside the pub and the emergency service saying: "... it's a day we can take great pride in how we've responded to this extraordinary tragedy".
The police have given no details of what has happened to the crew of two officers and a civilian pilot on board the helicopter.
It is still unclear what caused the crash, with one eyewitness saying the aircraft "dropped like a stone" and police have now launched a full investigation into the crash under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
An EC135 T2 like the one that crashed into the Clutha Vaults Investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) were on the scene on Saturday morning trying to piece together what had happened.
Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: "A full investigation is now underway. However, at this early stage it is too early to provide details on why the helicopter came down. There were three people on board the helicopter - two police officers and a civilian pilot - and on a busy Friday night, there were a number of customers in the bar."
A tent had been erected on top of the pub on Saturday morning over the wreckage of the aircraft, whose rotor could be seen protruding from the roof.
The helicopter, a EC135 T2, which is widely used in the police force, has a good safety record with one incident in 2007 after which the AAIB asked manufacturers Eurocopter to look at a stability system switch.
The Clutha is situated in Stockwell Street in Glasgow Gordon Smart, editor of the Sun's Scottish edition, saw the crash from a multi-storey car park nearby.
He told Sky News: "I thought it was a plane that was going to crash. I looked up at the sky and I could see the helicopter falling, tumbling ... and then there was an eerie silence for the last part of the fall.
"But the thing that was disturbing and shocking was there was no explosion. I couldn't understand why a helicopter would fall from that height and not explode. To see the angle, the speed and the trajectory of the fall ... it was a horrific sight."
Members of Esperanza, the band playing at the time, all escaped from the wreckage unharmed.
They posted on their Facebook site: "Best wishes to everyone from tonight...Hope everyone who got out managed to get home or somewhere safe to stay. To everyone who was injured...please get fixed soon. And please please please let us know of the people who we haven't heard from yet...hope they're found ok."
In a statement, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "This is a tragic event and our deepest sympathies are with the families and friends who lost a loved one last night.
"I want to thank the emergency services who worked tirelessly throughout the night and I also want pay tribute to the bravery of the ordinary Glaswegians who rushed to help.
"We have offered the Scottish Government our support in any way we can and we are all wishing a speedy recovery to those who are injured."
Labour leader Ed Miliband told Sky News: "There will be lots of people worried about their loved ones who are unaccounted for, and my thoughts are with them, and also with the people of Glasgow, who are an incredibly strong people, who showed last night in reaction when the helicopter hit, great bravery, great courage, great calm, in the midst of all this."
A number of St Andrew's Day events were being cancelled on Saturday morning as the tragic toll of Friday night's crash started to become apparent.
The Scottish Football Association said there would be a minute's silence at the 13 Scottish Cup games today.
Members of the public concerned about relatives who may have been involved in the crash can call an emergency helpline on 0800 092 0410.
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