Two men have died after a plane crashed at a racetrack in Derbyshire.

At about 11.30am on Tuesday, a light aircraft crashed at Darley Moor racetrack near Ashbourne, police said. The public were told to avoid the area, where emergency services remained on the scene.

A team of investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) was also in attendance.

In a statement, Derbyshire police said: “Two men have died after a light aircraft crashed at Darley Moor racetrack. The incident happened at about 11.30am today.

“Emergency services remain at the scene, and we ask that the public avoid the area at this time. Family members of the two men have been made aware and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”

In a statement, the AAIB said: “An accident in the Ashbourne area of Derbyshire involving a light aircraft has been notified to the AAIB. An investigation has been launched and a multidisciplinary team of inspectors are on their way to the accident site.”

Flying restrictions are in place via an order signed by the transport secretary on Tuesday afternoon. It says that no aircraft can fly below 1,600ft (488 metres) over the Darley Moor area.

The restrictions do not apply to any aircraft operating with the permission of the Derbyshire constabulary, the order said.

A fire brigade spokesperson said: “Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to reports of an incident involving a light aircraft at Darley Moor racetrack at 11.25am.

“Firefighters from Ashbourne, Wirksworth, Nottingham Road, Staveley and Staffordshire’s Uttoxeter attended the scene.

“Fire service resources have since been scaled back, with fire crews from Ashbourne and Wirksworth remaining on scene supporting colleagues from Derbyshire constabulary.”

On its website, the Darley Moor racetrack calls itself “a small friendly club that runs motorcycle road racing events … from March to October each year”.

The BBC, reporting from the scene, said the crashed aircraft sat close to a wooded area of the racetrack and that bodies were being recovered from the scene.