COMMUNITIES in the north Cotswolds have been in mourning this week following the deaths of seven people in a head-on collision last Friday.

In homes, schools, workplaces and churches throughout the area shocked families, friends, neighbours and workmates have been remembering those who died.

There have also been prayers for the recovery of the two children, who survived the crash but are still seriously ill in hospital.

The collision between a grey Peugeot 306 and a green VW Passat happened at 9.20pm on the A429 Fosseway near the turning to Broadwell.

Police said it was the worst loss of life in a car accident in the county.

All four occupants of the Peugeot, which is believed to have been overtaking a red Kia at the time of the crash, were declared dead at the scene.

They were driver Jason Brain, 35, his daughter Natasha Didcote, 15, and friend Michola Jones, 31, all from Moreton, and cousin Ryan Bott, 20, from near Chipping Norton.

The driver of the Passat, John Kirby, 63, from Stow, was also declared dead at the scene. His wife, Maggie, 61, and daughter, Julie, 34, died later in hospital. The couple's grandchildren, Adam Stone, 10, and sister Sophie, 9, suffered serious head and abdominal injuries.

They are both in hospitals in Bristol, where their mum Tina Stone, 38, and dad Nick are by their bedsides. Member of the family said the children are making good progress and showing signs of improvement.

A fund for Stow Primary School pupils Adam and Sophie has been set up at the Legion Club in Stow.

A two minutes' silence was held at the start of bingo at Moreton Community Club last Sunday. Mrs Kirby and her daughter were keen bingo players and Mr Kirby had taken his grandchildren to pick them up last Friday and was driving home when the accident happened.

Tributes have poured in for those involved in the collision, particularly the Kirby family, who were popular members of the community in Stow, where Mrs Kirby was chairman of the Royal British Legion's women section.

At the same time, questions have been raised about the driving of Mr Brain, who was banned for five years in January 2001, after pleading guilty to drink driving following a head-on crash on the same road in 2000. He fled the scene of that accident and admitted having no insurance.

The response of police officers who were first at the scene has been praised though firefighters have raised concerns about the time taken for ambulances to arrive to ferry the injured to hospital.

Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore is due to open an inquest into all seven deaths at Cheltenham Magistrates Court today.

It will be the first time that results of the post mortem examinations will be made public.

Flowers have been laid at the scene of the crash.