A 24-YEAR-OLD man and a 52-year-old man lost their lives in a fatal plane crash in Overbury, Tewkesbury.

The scene guard and cordon have now been removed from the scene of a light aircraft collision which took place on Monday afternoon, at around 12.50pm.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell from West Mercia Police said: "We have been working closely with our colleagues from the other emergency services to make the area safe and to ensure the resulting investigation can now proceed, which is being led by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

"We are continuing to support them throughout their ongoing investigation.

"Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the two men who have lost their lives."

The light plane, a Piper PA-28 single-engined aircraft, crashed in a fields near Overbury, on the slopes of Bredon Hill, at 12.46pm on Monday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, but were unable to help the pilot and passenger of the aircraft.

A spokesman for the Air Accident Investigation Branch confirmed that an an investigation has been launched.

The spokesman said that the investigation could take up to 12 months before it is concluded and its report published.

The aircraft was though to have been based at the Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton, between Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Gloucestershire Airport issued a statement on Monday saying: "Two people were killed when the light aircraft they were flying in crashed at Overbury. Our air traffic control staff raised the alarm when contact was lost with the aircraft around 12.40pm. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic accident."