This helicopter may have been grounded but it will take the camping experience to new heights.

Owners of Blackberry Wood campsite near Ditchling are converting the Westland Search and Rescue helicopter into a caravan with a difference.

It is the latest novel holiday home to be installed by owner Tim Johnson.

Campers can also stay in a London double-decker bus, an authentic caravan and a tiny Dutch bubble caravan from the 1960s.

However it is the helicopter that Mr Johnson said has been attracting the most attention.

The father-of-three, who runs the campsite with partner Eva Olsson, bought the helicopter for £5,000 from a site in Suffolk.

He said: “Everyone is queuing up to get in there.

“There are lots of kids on the site pleading with us to let them go in.

“I found out about this place in Suffolk where all these characters have whole aircraft sitting in their lawn.

“Originally I was looking for a private jet but they were very squishy inside and I didn’t think it would be a very nice experience to stay in there.

“So the helicopter was what popped up.

“The upstairs area is not very big so we will leave that bit so people can climb up there.

“It will be even more impressive when we have finished it.”

Mr Johnson said he is ripping out the electronic boxes from inside and replacing them with beds and seats.

He will also create an “army camp” outside complete with sandbags and an army shelter ready for the October half-term.

Guests will pay about £60 per night to hire the helicopter plus between about £5 and £9 per person per night.

But the sky is not the limit of Mr Johnson’s ambitions.

He said: “We are looking for other things to put on the site and are open to suggestions.

“We were thinking about a submarine or a tank.”