Bereaved father publishes story

Neal Cooper wants to help other bereaved parents

A Nottinghamshire man whose daughter was hit and killed by a bus has written a book to help crash victims' families.

Paula Rhodes and her husband Richard were among five people who died in the crash on Sea Lane in Ingoldmells on the Lincolnshire coast in 2004.

The bus driver was jailed for five years after he admitted five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Neal Cooper, from Mansfield, hopes the short book "No Devils in Hell" will help other bereaved parents.

Mr Cooper has paid for 100 copies of the book to be published, which he hopes to distribute to local bookshops and newsagents.

'People's hearts'

"I began to write it as a series of notes shortly afterwards (his daughter's death).

"A lot of the notes I wrote were very angry... but I've written it as a short story, an hour's read, that I think will get into people's hearts."

He said any profits from the book sales will go to road safety charities.

Mr Cooper has also set up a branch of the charity Roadpeace to offer counselling and support to bereaved families.

Stephen Topasna, 52, of Bridge Street, Louth was jailed at Lincoln Crown Court after admitting five charges of causing death by dangerous driving.