A DEVASTATED family are grieving the loss of a "smashing man" who died when his car was in collision with an express train in York.

Friends told how John Power, 54, was a much liked "ordinary man" and expressed their sympathies to his wife, Hazel, 50, and their five children.

The grandfather, a delivery driver for the Gap Group, in Murton, was popular with former neighbours in the Bell Farm area where he used to live before moving to a bungalow in St George's Place, off Tadcaster Road.

One friend, who asked not to be named, said: "He was a smashing man and that's it. Just a good family man. We'll all miss and him."

A woman in her thirties said: "He was well liked but nobody here wants to speak because we don't want to upset the family.

"We're all thinking about them and just want to allow them to grieve. They must all be devastated."

Pals at the Fossway pub, where Mr Power used to play in the pool and dominoes teams, said he was a quiet man who was well liked but had lost touch with people since moving with his wife earlier this year.

"He was a great bloke," said one man. "Just one of the lads. He worked hard as a delivery driver taking pieces of machinery all over the place.

"We've haven't seen him recently but a lot of people here know him and his daughters and we all have fond memories of him.

"It's a terrible thing to have happened. Nobody can believe it and are really sorry for his family."

One friend Paul Kendall, 52, said he was "devastated" by the death of his "former drinking buddy".

He said: "John was a quiet family man who looked after his kids and his grandkids. They were his life. He adored them. He was a hard-working grafter."

The pair lost touch after John was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago, but Paul still values him as a best friend. He said: "He stopped coming out drinking because of his condition and spent his time either working or with his family."

Mr Power was killed when his car was struck by a Virgin CrossCountry train, which was travelling at more than 100mph through Copmanthorpe on its way to York station.

His vehicle veered off the road and crashed through a fence before landing on the railway where it was in collision with the diesel train.

British Transport Police and rail experts were yesterday still sorting through wreckage at the scene where the train came to rest, a mile-and-a-half further down Moor Lane.

Parts of Mr Power's car were removed as evidence and his body was recovered, but has not yet been identified by next of kin.

Speaking from the small bungalow John shared with his wife, the delivery driver's son said: "We are all devastated by what has happened and just need to be left alone to grieve for our loss at this stage. For the moment, we don't have anything else to say."

It is believed the father-of-five had only just moved into the one-bedroom bungalow at Easter to make life easier for his wife after she suffered a stroke.

He is thought to have three sons and two daughters.

The horrific accident comes just weeks after the family celebrated the birth of what was thought to be John's fifth grandchild.

A shocked neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I can't believe it. Hazel and the family must be distraught. They only moved into the area a few months ago, but he was always very friendly and would always say hello."

Although the fatal accident occurred some five or six miles away in Copmanthorpe, the same railway line runs right next to the bungalow.

It has been suggested Mr Power may have been taking a part for Network Rail to a nearby depot when the accident happened.

Villagers help with aid effort

SHOCKED and tired passengers from the 14.25 train, which had been travelling from Plymouth to Edinburgh, were yesterday helped by kind villagers at a community centre.

The Women's Institute Hall, in Copmanthorpe, was quickly turned into a reception centre for the weary travellers before their onward journeys to places all over northern England and Scotland.

Lesley Jones, a member of the Northern Musical Theatre Company, said rehearsals underway at the centre were swiftly stopped to accommodate the worried passengers.

"The police announced they needed to commandeer the hall as a refuge for the passengers," she said. "A flurry of people started scurrying around putting out chairs and tables, switching on kettles and checking for provisions."

She said passengers were subdued and still shaking after the horror crash.

The group also served hot drinks to emergency service staff, who had been working through the night at the scene.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the deceased driver and our thanks to the emergency services," she said.