The pilot whose plane crashed during the Shoreham Airshow, killing 11 men, has been cleared of manslaughter.

Andy Hill, who grew up in Kent and went to Tonbridge School, had been attempting a loop when his Hawker Hunter jet exploded into a fireball on the A27 in West Sussex in August 2015.

The 54 year-old, from Buntingford in Hertfordshire, has been acquitted of 11 charges following a trial at the Old Bailey which lasted seven weeks.

Outside court he said: "I'm truly sorry for the part I played in their deaths and it is they that I will remember for the rest of my life."

An official Government report into the accident, published in 2017, found the crash was caused by pilot error when Mr Hill flew too low and too slowly while carrying out the bent loop manoeuvre, and could have been avoided.

The victims, who all lived in Sussex, were Maurice Abrahams, 76; Dylan Archer, 42; Tony Brightwell, 53; Matthew Grimstone, 23; Matt Jones, 24; Graham Mallinson, 72; Daniele Polito, 23; Mark Reeves, 53; Jacob Schilt, 23; Richard Smith, 26; and Mark Trussler, 54.

Detective Inspector Jon Fanner, from Sussex Police, said the force respected the decision of the jury.

He saod it had been a "long and complex investigation", adding it had been appropriate for these charged to be brought and for Mr Hill to stand trial.

He said: "I am acutely aware of the enormous impact it has had on those who lost their loved ones, those who were injured on the day and those who were watching.

"I must pay tribute to the families of the victims, many of whom have sat through every minute of every day throughout the trial - and have done so with complete dignity and support for each other, for our investigation and for us the police team.

"The humility they have shown has been truly inspiring."