An inquest was being re-opened today into the death of six servicemen from Culdrose killed when two helicopters collided on active service in the Gulf.

A US serviceman was also on board one of the Sea King Mk 7 helicopters, which collided in March 2003, five miles from HMS Ark Royal.

The hearing in Oxford is expected to hear such details as safety procedures, maintenance and training.

The helicopters - part of the Royal Navy's 849 Squadron - had been undertaking surveillance work for British forces in the al-Faw peninsula.

The men who died were Lieutenants Philip Green, 30, from Caythorpe, Lincolnshire; Antony King, 35, from Helston; Philip West, 32, from Budock Water; James Williams, 28, from Falmouth, all Cornwall; Andrew Wilson, 36, from Exeter, Devon and Marc Lawrence, 26, from Westgate-on-Sea, Kent.

Also on board was 27-year-old Lt Thomas Mullen Adams, of the US Navy, who was stationed at RNAS Culdrose.

The hearing is being conducted by former High Court judge Sir Richard Curtis, who is helping the Oxfordshire coroner expedite inquests caused by the fact that most of those killed in Iraq are repatriated to RAF Brize Norton.