A PILOT who died after his microlight plunged into a Ribble Valley field has been named as Christopher Nicholas Arthur Batchelor-Wylam.

Police said Mr Batchelor-Wylam, 25, of Preston was formally identified by relatives yesterday. He had flown from Preston to Doncaster on Friday afternoon to visit his parents. He was flying back to Preston on Sunday afternoon when he crashed near Dutton, between Hurst Green and Ribchester.

His body was discovered by a passer-by just after 4pm. The air ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Air accident investigators were inspecting the location yesterday.