A Sussex man killed when the plane he was in nosedived into a field has been named.

Jonathan Ellis, of Roman Way, Billingshurst, was killed when the Rockwell Commander aircraft crashed into a field at New Coombe Farm, Sharpethorne, last Saturday.

Also killed were pilot Iskander Zomaya, 55, of Worcester Park, Surrey; co-pilot Nigel Capps, 40, of Nice, France; and Dr Richard Green, 54, from Watford.

They had hired the Rockwell Commander plane from a firm based at Biggin Hill Airport before setting off on a 30-minute trip to Shoreham, where they had lunch before taking off for the return journey shortly after 2pm.

The plane crashed just 18 minutes into the flight, hitting the ground 100 yards from a secluded farmhouse.

The wreckage is being examined by air accident Investigators but a report on the likely cause of the accident is not expected for at least a month.

Neighbour Stephen Garside said at the time of the crash: " There was a noise and it just nosedived. There was no explosion. The starboard wing was bent completely back as it came down."