The helicopter crash which killed Cumbrian businessman Mark Weir was an accident, it was decided today.

Sitting in an inquest at Cleator Moor, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of 'accidental death', which occured on March 8 2011 near Honister Slate Mine - the business Mr Weir owned.

Mr Weir, 45, had set off from the mine to fly to his Cockermouth home at around 19.06pm on that evening.

But the inquest heard that within one minute of take-off, the father-of-three either 'lost control' or became unaware as to his spatial location due to other factors.

The accident was described as 'unsurviveable'.

After hearing about shortcomings with the airworthiness of the Hungarian registered helicopter, coroner for north and west Cumbria David Roberts said he would write to the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport.

He said: "I will ask them to look at the arrangements of helicopters flown in this country that are registered in other countries."