Crash relatives attend service

Coffins containing two of the British victims were placed in the church

Relatives of the victims of the Austria coach crash tragedy have lit candles in front of their loved ones' coffins in a special memorial service.

Five Britons died when the coach was forced off the road in the Alps.

A group of about 25 family members joined 200 local rescue workers for the service in a chapel in Hallein, a town near the scene of Tuesday's accident.

Hallein Mayor Christian Stockl told the relatives the people of the town shared "the grief and sorrow".

He added: "I wish you much strength to stand this tragic accident. God bless you."

Congregation

Earlier a minibus driver charged with causing the crash, expressed his regret over the deaths.

Retired trucker Johan Prettenthaler, 70, told the Times: "I would do anything to turn the clock back."

Austrian police believe the overtaking minibus forced the coach off the road on Tuesday.

Is it all right to ask God, 'where have you been?' Yes it is Vera Wimmer, a Protestant priest Minibus driver's crash regret

On Friday, a Catholic priest led prayers in German, and a Protestant priest, Vera Wimmer, those in English, for the victims.

Ms Wimmer told the congregation she was called to help comfort a 16-year-old victim of the crash in hospital.

"On Wednesday afternoon I got a call from the hospital because a wonderful young lady had asked for support so I went to see her.

"From the encounter, I probably gained more than she did. I would like to dedicate the following thoughts to her and her extended family, which we all are today," she said.

Ms Wimmer went on to assure the grieving families that it was "all right" to feel angry, to think "that's not fair", and "to struggle with feelings of guilt".

"Is it all right to ask God, 'where have you been?' Yes it is."

Faith

She continued: "Our beliefs are challenged, our faith might be shaken. But hope does not depend on the size of our faith.

"Hope depends on the size of our God."

The coach left the road and rolled three times down a bank

For many present, the music and the solemnity of the occasion was overwhelming.

Local residents comforted each other while emergency workers and officials were also visibly moved.

Also present at the ceremony were the Charges d'Affaires from the British Embassy, Piers Baker, the regional governor of Salzburg and the driver of the coach which crashed, Martin Faulhaber.

Candles

The dead Britons have been named as David Hamilton, 33, of Dorset; Marian Ashby, 80, and her son Robert Ashby, 60, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire; Clare Patel, 39, of Amersham, Buckinghamshire; and Rebecca Earland, 16, of Tonbridge, Kent.

They were among 42 British tourists whose bus plunged off a mountain road and fell 60 metres down a slope.

A minibus driver faces a possible four year jail term for charges of causing death by negligence in the accident, according to police in the area.