Four people have died after a private jet crash landed in a car auction site and burst into flames as prepared for landing on a nearby runway.

The Phenom 300 jet which was coming into land from Milan when the aircraft went down at Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire.

A dark plume of black smoke could be seen twisting into the sky, while an orange-red ball of fire raged below following yesterday's incident.

The fire appeared to be in the middle of a car park, with vehicles lined up for inspection at the auction site based at the airport.

Debris from the jet could be seen strewn among the dozens of severely damaged cars.

Hampshire Police's acting chief inspector Olga Venner said: "Four people on board, including the pilot, but sadly, there were no survivors.

"No-one on the ground has been injured and we would urge anyone with any information, including pictures or videos, to contact 101."

Police have launched a joint investigation with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the airfield was shut last night.

In a statement, an airport spokesman said: "Blackbushe Airport confirmed that a Phenom 300 jet with four persons on board crashed near the end of the runway around 3.09pm while attempting to make a landing.

"The scene was attended by Blackbushe Fire and Rescue within minutes, followed by Hampshire fire, police and ambulance units. Emergency services are currently controlling the scene."

Robert Belcher, a local aviation enthusiast, said he was driving home when he saw a plume of black smoke coming from the site.

He said: "I was passing the airport on my way home and there was a big column of smoke in the air.

"The fire service had closed the road behind me.

"I could see the plume of smoke waving from about five miles away and was hoping it was just a car fire rather than an aircraft accident."

Mr Belcher said he was "shocked" when he discovered that a jet had crashed.

He added: "Apparently the aircraft was landing and just didn't stop.

"At the end of the runway there is a car park because the airport is used for car auctions and it's gone into there.

"I assumed it was cars on fire in the auction yard.

"Local people have said that it was this aircraft which is registered in Saudi Arabia.

"It's been a regular visitor to the airport for a few months.

"The aircraft would hold six people, it's a small jet."

Andrew Thomas, who was paying for a car at the time of impact, said the plane "exploded".

"I saw it when it had just happened, and could see the plane and cars in flames," he told BBC Surrey. The plane nosedived into the cars and exploded on impact."

Local resident Daphne Knowles, 70, told GetSurrey: "I was in a field with the cattle and I heard an aircraft coming very very fast from behind me. The engines were screaming far too much and the aircraft was trying to land - I'm a glider pilot and I thought it's far too low to the ground."