Ship brings back bodies to port

The bodies of Mr Menzies (left) and Mr Burnham were among those found Those who died in North Sea crash

The salvage ship carrying the remaining eight bodies from a helicopter which crashed in the North Sea killing 16 people has docked in Aberdeen harbour.

The wreckage of the Super Puma, which was found on the sea bed on Sunday, was also transported on the Bibby Topaz.

The cockpit and voice data recorder have been sent to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The coffins carrying the eight bodies were taken away from the harbour in a convoy just before 0530 BST.

Half of those killed came from the north east of Scotland.

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The wreckage of the helicopter is lifted into port

Experts at the AAIB headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire, will use the salvaged equipment to try to work out why the helicopter crashed last Wednesday, killing all 14 passengers and the two pilots on board.

Investigators said they found the last remaining bodies on Sunday.

Two of the eight bodies found on Sunday were believed to be those of the pilot and co-pilot, Paul Burnham, 31, from Methlick in Aberdeenshire, and Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire.

We're trying to have a centre with everything under one roof where relatives, next of kin, family, but also colleagues, people who work in the industry who may want some help and assistance can come along Brian Taylor KCA Deutag chief operating officer

On Wednesday the bodies of eight of the passengers who died were recovered a few hours after the helicopter crashed.

The helicopter was said to have been lying about 100m under the surface.

It had been returning from BP's Miller oil platform when it crashed about 14 miles off the Aberdeenshire coast at 1400 BST.

The Super Puma was operated by British firm Bond Offshore Helicopters.

KCA Deutag, which employed many of the dead, opened a Humanitarian Assistance Centre in Aberdeen's Hilton Treetops Hotel on Monday, in light of the "huge, continuing emotional impact" of the helicopter tragedy.

Brian Taylor, the chief operating officer with KCA Deutag, said the recovery of the remaining bodies may bring "some small comfort" to their loved ones.

The Super Puma wreckage arrived back in Aberdeen on Monday

He told BBC Scotland: "Within the company there's been a mixture of feelings and emotions, I think starting with disbelief, shock, a great sadness and then a real willingness to do whatever can be done to help.

"We're trying to have a centre with everything under one roof where relatives, next of kin, family, but also colleagues, people who work in the industry who may want some help and assistance can come along."

One worker who signed a book of condolence in Aberdeen told BBC Scotland: "I worked with Stuart Wood. It's been pretty sombre. There's been a hell of an atmosphere.

"It's a job and it has to be done. It will take a long time to get over this."

The UK Oil and Gas Chaplaincy will conduct a memorial service on Wednesday 15 April in the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen at 1400 BST.