The Revd Peter Cook of Hanham Baptist Church in Bristol was in the area when Ross Simons, 34, and wife Clare, 30, were thrown off their bike as they cycled along Lower Hanham Road on Sunday (January 27). Their bike was hit by a car fleeing police. They died instantly.

'I was just told about it when I was about to start my evening service and I really thought the person telling me was having me on,' Mr Cook said.
'We stopped the service and prayed for what was going on - it seemed just so implausible.'

He went to the scene, and where he met Ross's father, friends of the family and members of the community. He also spoke to reporters, expressing the community's shock and incomprehension at the tragedy.

'We weren't actually the nearest church to the incident, but I am the only minister in the area with only one church, so I was the only one who could take the time out to be there for the family and community,' Mr Cook explained.

'It was a really tough day, but amazing how open people were to God.'

A 38-year-old man later handed himself into a police station and has since been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.