TWO friends of murdered skydiver Stephen Hilder have been told they are no longer suspects.

Army cadets Adrian Blair and David Mason, both 19, had been quizzed at length last October and three weeks ago police raided their college rooms.

They had jumped in a formation competition with Stephen, 20, who was a cadet at Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, last July.

He fell 13,000ft to his death at Hibaldstow, North Lincs, after both his main and reserve chute failed to open. It was later discovered that they had been tampered with.

Around 100 people - including 78 competitors - had been at the National Championships of the British Collegiate Parachute Association.

Stephen, a drummer in Highworth Silver Band, was a veteran of more than 200 parachute jumps.

He was studying for a degree in management and logistics and was aiming to follow a career in the Army.

Police investigations are continuing into the death.