POLICE believe they may have found a key witness to the Cotswolds car crash which claimed seven lives early last month.

A high-profile road check at Stow last Friday - three weeks to the day after the accident which also left two children in hospital - led to an interview with a woman motorist who could prove a key witness, said incident chief investigator Sergeant Colin Ford.

"There was one possible crucial witness who I am going to speak to again as soon as possible," he said afterwards.

A Peugeot 306 driven by convicted drink-driver Jason Brain, 35, with his daughter Natasha Didcote, 15, friend Michola Jones, 31 and cousin Ryan Bott, was in collision with a VW Passat carrying Maggie Kirby, 61, husband John, 63 and daughter Julie, 34. All seven died.

The Kirby's two grandchildren, Adam Stone, 11, and sister Sophie, nine, are still recovering from their injuries in separate hospitals in Bristol.

It is believe the Peugeot was overtaking a Ford Kia on the A429 when it collided head-on with the Passat.

The funeral of Maggie Kirby, aged 61, took place last Wednesday at St Edward's Church, Stow and there was standing room only as the coffin carrying the remains of three members of the Kirby family was brought into the church.

Mrs Kirby's husband John, 63 and their daughter Julie, 34, were cremated a day earlier and their ashes were placed alongside her for the lunchtime ceremony.

The coffin entered the church to the sounds of I'm Already There by Westlife and the Rev David Francis began with an introduction and prayers before the hymn The Lord is My Shepherd was sung.

After a reading from the book of John Chapter 14, Rev Francis paid tribute to Mrs Kirby. "It was Maggie's work with the Royal British Legion that brought her out into the public eye. She was much-loved and very well-known in the village through her work and fundraising for the RBL. She will be greatly missed by all."

As the coffin was brought out of the church, members of the RBL provided a guard of honour.

The last of the funerals, Mr Brain's, was held last Friday.