Air crash site cordon is lifted

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A police cordon has been lifted at a south Wales nature reserve where the wreckage of two aircraft was strewn after a mid air collision.

Two teenage air cadets and their two instructors died in the incident over Porthcawl on Wednesday.

Cousins Nikkita Walters, 13, and Katie-Jo Davies, 14, had been on an RAF 'air experience' flight when the planes collided.

Police say Kenfig Nature Reserve is now open again to the public.

Three investigations involving the police, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and an RAF board of inquiry are continuing into the crash, which also claimed the lives of instructors Hylton Price, 63, and Andrew Marsh, 24.

Police and crash investigators have spent the last four days combing the nature reserve and its sand dunes for crash debris.

'Thorough search'

The cordon around the area was lifted by South Wales Police late on Saturday.

Assistant Chief Constable Colette Paul said: "Members of the emergency services, together with colleagues from the Environment Agency have conducted a thorough search of the site and have worked hard to return the area back to normal.

"I would like to thank the community for the patience and support during what has been a painstaking process.

"Officers from South Wales Police continue to work hard as we investigate the circumstances of the incident on behalf of the Coroner and work in tandem with the RAF and AAIB."

Wreckage and debris were strewn across half a mile near Porthcawl

Tributes

Twelve thousand people have joined a tribute group on social networking site Facebook, in memory of the four victims.

Both girls were from Evanstown, near Gilfach Goch in the south Wales valleys, and Year 9 pupils at Tonyrefail Comprehensive.

Mr Price was from Bridgend, and fellow pilot Andrew Marsh was from Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Katie-Jo was on her first flight after joining the Air Training Corps just before Christmas.

Nikkita had been a member of the ATC in Pontypridd since last June and had just passed her first class cadet examinations.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the RAF's two Grob Tutor planes touch before an explosion and the fatal crash.

Announcing that the nature reserve was now open without restrictions, ACC Paul added: "If, in the unlikely event, any member of the public should spot any debris or associated items, they should contact South Wales Police immediately."

Police can be contacted with any information regarding the air incident on 01656 306102 or 01656 306103.