The pair died when their two-seater Luscombe Silvaire plane collided with another light aircraft in the skies near the village of Admaston, Staffs, just after midday on Sunday.

The second aircraft, said air accident investigators, was carrying three people but managed to land safely at East Midlands Airport about 25 miles away.

The field, part of the land surrounding Rectory Farm, was sealed off and specialist investigators will resume detailed examinations.

The bodies of the two victims, said to have taken off from a local airfield, were removed from the scene on Sunday night.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is taking the lead in the case.

Senior investigator Tim Atkinson said it was too early to say exactly what had caused the collision. Weather conditions were clear and visibility was fine, he said.

He said both planes were privately owned on leisure flights and were not under air traffic control when they collided. Such procedure is normal for the size of plane, he added.

"Aircraft do collide," said Mr Atkinson. "Mid-air collisions are mercifully very rare, a great deal of general aviation is done on the principle that the pilot keeps a good look-out."

East Midlands Airport was closed for several hours after the larger aircraft, used for activities such as parachuting, made a forced landing following the collision. No one on board was injured.