TWO men have been killed when an aircraft which left an airfield in Gloucesteshire crashed in North Herefordshire.

The plane crashed in a field just short of the runway at Shobdon Airfield, near Leominster at 3.40pm on Saturday.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into the crash.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "The first medical help to arrive at the scene was the Welsh Air Ambulance from Welshpool.

Burning wreckage "It had been coming in to the airfield to refuel when it was requested to assist.

"When ambulance staff arrived it was clear that there had been a fire at the crash site.

"Sadly, it was also apparent that there was nothing that could be done to save the two men on board the aircraft and they were confirmed dead at the scene."

The wreckage of the microlight aircraft was taken to Farnborough for examination yesterday.