The crash between two helicopters at the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003 was an "avoidable accident", an inquest has been told.

Two Culdrose-based Royal Navy Sea King helicopters collided killing seven crew members.

Rear Admiral Alan Massey, HMS Ark Royal's commanding officer, told the inquest it was still not known why they crashed a few miles from the vessel.

"There was no need, prima facie, for the two aircraft to fly into each other - it could have been avoided," he said.

"All I know is that the aircraft flew into each other.

"We can't for the life of us fathom what it was," he added.

Radar showed two Royal Navy helicopters on a collision course before they crashed and it was thought both Sea King pilots had seen each other.

The inquest in Oxford is investigating what caused the helicopters to crash as one returned to HMS Ark Royal and another leaving on a mission off the coast of Iraq.

Lt Philip Green, 30, from Caythorpe, Lincolnshire; Lt Antony King, from Helston; Lt Marc Lawrence, 26, from Westgate-on-Sea, Kent; Lt Philip West, 32, from Budock Water; Lt James Williams, 28, from Falmouth, and Lt Andrew Wilson, 36, from Exeter, Devon died alongside a US serviceman.

The inquest continues.