AN EVESHAM teenager has been named as one of the people who died in a helicopter crash in Somerset at the weekend.

James Tartaglia, aged 15, of High Littleton, was enjoying the ride with his father Allan, of Brockworth in Gloucestershire, another passenger and the pilot when disaster struck.

Mr Tartaglia's brother, Gordon, said the family was extremely close and had been left "shattered at the news."

"What has happened this weekend is devastating and has shattered the lives of many, many people," he said.

"James was only 15, and was just starting to develop into an excellent young man. What has happened is truly tragic."

The Air Accident Investigation Board is now conducting a full enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash, assisted by Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

The Constabulary was alerted by their Gloucestershire counterparts to a problem just after 5pm on Saturday after reports that a privately-owned helicopter was overdue at Staverton Airport.

The £800,000 Jet Ranger 206B had left Staverton that morning to visit the Torbay area.

Police received various reports, sightings and information which indicated that the aircraft got into difficulties en-route and had turned back.

A full search operation was launched, but this had to be called off because of bad weather and was resumed the next morning when a member of the public discovered the wreckage.

A police spokesman said he is satisfied that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. The coroner has also been informed.

"We extend our condolences to the family and friends who have lost loved ones," said temporary assistant chief constable Rod Hansen.

"We would like to thank members of the local community, who demonstrated great public-spiritedness, by both reporting what they knew and by helping with the search effort."