The base lowered its flag to half mast

The six Britons and one American from RNAS Culdrose, near Helston, died in accident near HMS Ark Royal at about 0115 GMT (0415 local time) on Saturday over international waters.

The helicopters were part of the Royal Navy's 849 Squadron Airborne Early Warning team at the Helston base.

The flag on the Culdrose base has been lowered to half mast and people have been bringing flowers and gathering in small groups outside to pay tribute. The flag has also been lowered at St Michael's Church in the town.

The commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, Captain Mike Knowles, said he had no doubt many people would be affected by the news.

He said: "We have 3,000 people working here, of which 2,000 are military and 1,000 are civilian.

"But despite its size, Culdrose has always been very much a family community, and so the shock of this will reverberate through all of that community, and indeed through the local community in the south west of Cornwall.

Being a member of this community, you will know people in Culdrose David Miller, Anglican Rector of Helston

"We've had tremendous support from the public, with people phoning in to offer their condolences."

Captain Knowles said the process of contacting the servicemen's families was under way and that support would be offered to those families by the Royal Navy's Family Service.

The Mayor of Helston, Nick Martin, paid his tribute to the crews and said it will affect many within the local community.

"I'm shocked and really saddened, because not only am I the mayor, but I also work at Culdrose and am an ex-serviceman.

"So I know how sad this occasion is and how it will affect people."

The Anglican Rector of Helston, David Miller, said the tragedy is affecting the entire community.

Flowers were brought to the base to pay tribute to the dead

"People in the community are members of Culdrose. They send their children to local schools and they participate in local organisations.

"So, there's this sense of enormous shock that will touch everybody in Helston because, by being a member of this community, you will know people in Culdrose."

He also said all church services this weekend would be dominated by the tragedy.

People in the town say they are shocked and saddened by the loss of the seven crewmen.

One resident said: "I thought such incidents would be inevitable. But when the reality hits home, it does shock."

Another resident said: "It's very sad for the families and my sympathy goes out to them.

"But it's not just immediate family, it's friends and relatives as well."

ROYAL NAVY SEA KING Early warning role since 1982 Detects low-flying attack aircraft 300 in UK service Full Sea King fact file

St Ives MP Andrew George said the men's bravery should be recognised.

He said: "My first thoughts are with the families of those who have been tragically lost.

"I have deep admiration for the commitment and professionalism of the men and women out there."

Downing Street also expressed its deep sadness at the deaths of the seven servicemen.

In the Gulf, Ark Royal Captain Alan Massey said the deaths were caused by a "tragic accident" near the Royal Navy's flagship.

"They are shipmates and colleagues and comrades of all of us on board. The loss has been felt intensely here.

"These are very professional and superb aviators. They have been doing very important missions."

Missions continue

Despite the deaths, Captain Massey said the ship's work would continue and members of the same squadron had already been sent out.

He said: "I know that what they would have said to us now that there is a mission to do...we have marines on the ground who need our support."

It is the second loss of South West-based troops since war in Iraq started.

On Friday, eight servicemen from Plymouth-based 3 Commando died in a helicopter crash in northern Kuwait.

The troops died when a US CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed several miles south of the Iraqi border. Four US service personnel also died in the incident.

Tony Blair paid tribute to the men, saying: "We owe them an immense debt of gratitude and our thoughts and prayers are with their families."