Circumstances behind the death of a pilot killed in a plane crash in Spain will never be known, an inquest has heard.

Former Thanet district councillor Simon Moores, the brother of TV baker Paul Hollywood's ex wife, died in January along with a fellow passenger after their light aircraft hit a mountainside near Errezil in the north of the country.

Locals spotted the Piper Arrow III in the sky at about 1pm as it headed into dense fog surrounding Mount Hernio.

They soon heard a strong impact and the noise of the engine stopped.

After being alerted to the crash, emergency crews found the plane wreckage scattered across the uneven mountainside and spotted signs of a fire.

Both bodies were discovered near to the crash site.

Father-of-two Mr Moores, 62, had taken to the skies from the Portuguese town of Cascais with friend David Hockings.

Assistant coroner Ian Goldup, who concluded the inquest today at Canterbury Coroners Court, said: "We have genetic evidence of the deceased, but beyond that we have so little knowledge.

"We don't know if there was an engine problem or mechanical fault - we don't know how it occurred.

"The cause of death is unascertained - we will never know if it was a plane fault or pilot error."

South Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale previously paid tribute to Mr Moores, a former Tory councillor for Westgate-on-Sea.

He said: "Simon Moores was a good friend who served with distinction as a Thanet District Councillor.

"He was also an accomplished aviator. He lost his life tragically young but doing what he loved most - flying a light aircraft.

"Simon will be missed by all who worked with him, by those who enjoyed his company and by the community that benefited from his experience."

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