Officers from Gwent Police continued their investigations in a field where the plane came down around a mile from the M4 at Magor, south Wales.

A police forensics officer said two bodies had been discovered close to each other. A massive police investigation involving around 50 officers began after the crash was reported.

Debris from the plane - which a Cardiff International Airport spokesman described as a Europa light aircraft - was scattered across the main link road between Magor and Llanwern steelworks.

Part of a wing, bearing the letters GHOFC, landed in the middle of the road, with part of the tail in a nearby field next to where one of the bodies was found.

Western Power Distribution staff attended the scene to investigate an electricity pylon. One line of inquiry is that the plane may have collided with power lines.

Superintendent Colin Jones said the electricity board had been carrying out investigations at the scene, but added: "There is nothing at this stage to say there has been any contact with the power cables.

"This is a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to them [families of the victims] at this time."

The Cardiff International Airport spokesman said Air Traffic Services had been in contact with the plane - which set off from Bodmin, Cornwall, and was flying to Upfields Farm in the Newport area - during its journey.

But they did not receive a mayday or distress call and the first they heard of the crash was when they were contacted by emergency services.