A WARBURTONS spokeswoman confirmed this afternoon that the helicopter party had included a 39-year-old London businessman who was a close friend of joint managing director Jonathan Warburton.

They had known each other since their days at Millfield School in Somerset. "We are all devastated," she said.

"Jonathan is particularly upset and we feel for all the families involved. It is dreadful."

She said: "They went for a meal, watched the match and returned to the helicopter afterwards."

The helicopter had taken off from the firm's car park as normal and had been waved off by the hosts.

"The first Jonathan knew about it was when he received a telephone call at 6.30am today," the spokeswoman said.

Jonathan and Brett were in Middlewich today.

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