Shoreham air crash victims to be remembered one week after disaster that killed at least 11

Credit: PA

The victims of the Shoreham air crash will be remembered in a series of events today to mark one week since at least 11 people were killed.

Silences and vigils will be held in communities touched by the tragedy last Saturday, when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed onto the busy A27 during the Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex.

Local residents will gather at a wooden toll bridge near the crash site where hundreds of floral tributes have been left and hold a minute's silence at 1.20pm, the precise time of the crash.

At the same time, the family and friends personal trainer Matt Jones will let off balloons in his memory.

In the evening, a candlelit vigil will be held at the Adur Ferry Bridge as part of Shoreham's annual River Fest event.

A minute's silence will also be observed at the Remembrance in the Park event in Lancing Manor.

The jet crashed onto the busy A27, killing at least 11 people. Credit: Reuters

The community has donated more than £15,000 to an online appeal, while a local nursery has offered free childcare to victims' families and survivors.

Adur District Council leader Neil Parkin said: "These community events demonstrate the strength of the feelings shared by everyone who has been touched by this tragedy.

"The experience of sharing a minute of silence is so powerful and will be a fitting moment of reflection one week on."

On Friday, health care manager Tony Brightwell, 53, became the seventh person identified as having died in the incident.

Grandfather Mark Reeves, Worthing United footballers and best friends Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, wedding chauffeur Maurice Abrahams, father Daniele Polito and Mr Jones are also known to have been killed.

From left: Jacob Schilt, Matthew Grimstone, Matt Jones and Maurice Abrahams were among the victims.

Motorcyclist Mark Trussler is missing and feared dead.

The jet's pilot, Andrew Hill, was left fighting for his life after the crash and has been moved to a specialist hospital for treatment.

The aircraft crashed with such force that specialists are having to examine DNA, teeth and human remains to discover who was killed.

Earlier, police released images from the crash site, showing the debris-strewn aftermath of the crash on the A27 and forensic investigators gathering clues.

The A27 has been closed since the crash. Sussex Police said it is due to reopen on Bank Holiday Monday.

The plane wreckage has been sent to Farnborough, Hampshire, where Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigators will try to find out what caused the crash. An interim report is due in the next few days.