Coroner Geoff Fell has branded an Oxfordshire RAF squadron "a sloppy outfit" at the inquest of three men who died in a helicopter crash.

Mr Fell said there was no evidence of any documentation to show the crew of the doomed RAF Puma, based at RAF Benson in south Oxfordshire, were "properly ratified" to fly the aircraft.

He made his comments on the second day of the inquest into the deaths of Flight Lieutenant David Sale, 28, Sergeant Phillip Burfoot, 27, and 17-year-old Army recruit Private Sean Tait.

Twelve military personnel were on board the helicopter that crashed while taking part in a training flight near Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on August 8, 2007.

Mr Fell was trying to establish if Flight Lieutenant Robert Hamilton, who was left paraplegic as a result of the injuries he suffered, and Flight Lieutenant Paul Carlon, who had taken part in earlier exercises, were deemed limited combat-ready and qualified to take part.

Mr Fell said: "There is no paperwork to suggest or indicate that Hamilton and Carlon were LCR (limited combat-ready).

"There is no document to show this crew were properly ratified.

"This is a sloppy outfit. I can't put it any other way.

"I'm not prepared to sit here and see these families denied the right to find out what has happened to their kids," he said.