A student parachutist plunged to his death after his chute failed to open.

The man was named last night as Colin Graham, 23, who was single, of Mariners Wharf, Newcastle.

Police have launched an inquiry into the accident, which happened when the man jumped from a Cessna 182 plane at a Northumberland airfield.

Mr Graham was under instruction at the Border Parachute Centre, which was set up more than 20 years ago.

Officers from Northumbria Police are still investigating the accident.

Experts recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority are working with police to try to piece together how the accident happened.

Police were called to Brunton Airfield, near Chathill, Northumberland, at about 11.30am on Saturday.

Ambulance service staff were called to the scene, but were stood down when they arrived.

A spokesman said: "We received a call at 11.30am saying a parachutist had come down without his chute opening.

"When we arrived on the scene he had already been pronounced dead."

The Border Parachute Centre, based at the airfield, is owned by Tim and Katherine Andrewes.

The couple are British Parachute Association examiners and members of the British parachuting team.

Mr Andrewes confirmed that there had been an accident, but did not want to comment further