AN investigation into the cause of a helicopter crash which killed three people was due to resume today as police identified the victims.

Neil Andrew Waterfall, 38, and James Roe, 40, from Derbyshire, and Wayne Burgess, 32, from Coventry, were aboard a Robinson R44 helicopter which crashed on Withnell Moor between White Coppice and Bolton Road at 5pm on Tuesday.

Mr Roe was taken from the scene to Royal Preston Hospital by air ambulance where he later died, while the bodies of Mr Waterfall and Mr Burgess were recovered from the wreckage yesterday.

Police said the private helicopter had flown from Coventry to Blackpool and was travelling back in convoy with another helicopter when the accident occured.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: "Two helicopters were flying back, one made it and the other one didn't.

"We don't know why they were flying from Coventry to Blackpool or what has happened at this stage.

"The air accident investigation team are continuing their work today.

"We will assist them in whatever way we can as well and work alongside them to clear the wreckage."

It is still not clear whether Mr Burgess, a flying instructor, or Mr Waterfall, a trainee pilot, was in at the helm of the dual-controlled machine at the time of the crash.

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