We are comforted with the fact he died doing something he was most happy with

Mr French's family

Eye witnesses say they saw the aircraft in trouble at about 1730 BST on Friday.

The alarm was raised by road-builders working on a road nearby who ran to the scene but were unable to do anything for the victims.

The crash site, at Blackley Lane in Great Notley, was been sealed off.

'Engine stopped'

One witness described how the gyrocopter fell to the ground as he watched from about quarter of a mile away.

Andy Ryman, who was out walking with his family, said: "This had been flying around for quite some time.

"Suddenly I heard the engine seem to stop and that drew my attention to it.

"I looked up and the microlight was plummeting towards the ground."

Family's sadness

Mr Ryman ran back to his house and called the emergency services before going to the crash scene.

He said: "When we got there most of the wreckage was in one spot."

A tribute from Mr French's family said: "Gerry achieved his dream to fly in the machine he had lovingly built.

"We are comforted with the fact he died doing something he was most happy with."

Both men died at the scene.