Four people have been killed in a mid-air collision between a helicopter and light aircraft flying from an airfield where air traffic control had been shut due to “staff shortages”.

Wreckage from the aircraft tumbled from the sky and landed just over a mile from the former home of the Rothschild banking family at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, yesterday lunchtime.

Members of the Rothschild reported hearing a “loud bang” and a plume of smoke could be seen above trees.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the collision involved a helicopter and a two-seat Cessna 152 aircraft, each carrying two people, both of the craft had taken off from Wycombe Air Park, 23 miles away near High Wycombe.

A Notice to Airmen was previously issued to warn pilots the air field's air traffic control services would be closed during three 30-minute periods on selected days between November 7-30 due to a "staff shortage".