Vanessa was a hugely professional person, but at the same time was great fun

Colonel David Bone 5 Division

Three Sierra Leonean soldiers, who were also on board, were hospitalised. Sources differ on whether they were badly injured.

A senior Sierra Leonean military official in Freetown said the helicopter had just taken off from Kenema airport on its way to the capital Freetown when it suffered engine problems and crashed.

"We're all very saddened by this death," UN mission spokeswoman Margaret Novicki told the Reuters news agency.

"From what I'm told it was a helicopter malfunction. It happened this morning."

Army manoeuvres

The UK has contributed special forces, troops and other military assistance to help train the Sierra Leonean army, end the civil war and stabilise the country.

Sierra Leonean armed forces are due to go on manoeuvres in the east of the country as the government reasserts its authority over areas previously controlled by rebels under a peace deal.

Officials said the victim and the helicopter's other passengers were flying to the area to view troop deployment and were not taking an active role in the operations.

Major Lang, whose normal base was Headquarters 5 Division in Shrewsbury, joined the Army in 1979.

Several tours

Maj Lang, whose family come from Yorkshire, was the widow of an Army officer and had no children.

Her career was marked by service at several locations, including tours in Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

Colonel David Bone, the Chief of Staff of 5 Division, paid tribute to her: "Vanessa was a hugely professional person, but at the same time was great fun. Her death is a great loss.

"Everyone who knew her will be very shocked and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time."