A COMMUNITY is in mourning this week following the tragic death of a popular minister and his wife in a car crash.

The Rev David Bannister and his wife, Christine, were enjoying a two-day break in the Lake District when their Volvo car was in collision with a car driven by a 38-year-old Windermere man.

They were both pronounced dead at the scene following the accident on the A591 Rather Heath, near Kendal. The Windermere man suffered back injuries.

Police said information on the accident is sketchy, but were convinced that the Bannisters would have died immediately.

Mr Bannister, 62, had been minister of The Grove Methodist Church and Horsforth Central Methodist Church since 1995. A vigil service was attended by hundreds of townsfolk on Thursday in memory of the couple.

The couple moved to Leeds from Kidderminster in 1995, when Mr Bannister took over from the Rev Frank Pagden as the superintendent minister at The Grove. Mr Pagden, the former Radio Leeds presenter, said that everyone at the church was "stunned, shocked and devastated" at the news. "The church has united in a tremendous feeling of togetherness in this shared grief," he added.

Ann Blackburn, widow of the former Grove minister Rev Philip Blackburn, said: "What was so delightful at the vigil service was that people attended who were not from the Grove or Central Methodist Churches, but from churches across the circuit and from other denominations as well. Between 200-300 people attended and it was a fitting tribute."

Steward Ron Hartley said: "The church is reeling. He was a well-loved person and a terrific man. They will both be very hard to replace."

City Councillor Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) added: "Both Rev Bannister and his wife put a lot of work into the community, particularly with the young people. They were very involved in the community and dedicated - Horsforth is in mourning after this tragedy. It's devastating."

The couple, who had two grown up children, Jonathan and Catherine, were due to retire in two years.

The accident happened at about 10.15pm last Wednesday. l Letters P6.

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