Two soldiers were killed after a tank explosion died after "a design flaw went undetected" on the vehicle's gun barrel, according to a senior coroner speaking at their inquest in Solihull.

Corporals Matthew Hatfield and Darren Neilson, of the Royal Tank Regiment, were fatally injured while on a training exercise at the Castlemartin ranges in Pembrokeshire on 14 June, 2017.

The coroner, Louise Hunt, said the "main cause" was that the gun could be fired when a key component - the bolt vent axial (BVA) - which forms an air-tight seal blocking hot gases escaping into the crew turret, was missing.

Cpl Hatfield's fiancé said the family will be 'forever proud' of him.

Cpl Darren Neilson's wife Jemma said, "the legacy Darren leaves behind is that of a hero."

The coroner said there were other issues which contributed to the explosion.

She said: "At the time of the incident, there was no written process in place to check for the presence of the BVA assembly or any written process to confirm when it should be removed and where it should be stored.

"The 'prove the gun' drill was misunderstood and there was a grey area around when it should be done.

"The decision to undertake an experience shoot was opportunistic and not communicated adequately.

"There was no written handover procedure in place, and no handover occurred between the crews."