Driver held in 4x4 safari crash

Mr Pearce ran the Londonderry Flowers florist in Smethwick

The driver of a 4x4 which crashed in Turkey killing a father and his eight-year-old daughter has been detained by police, the Foreign Office has said.

Jonathan Pearce, 38, and his daughter Charley, from Smethwick, West Midlands, died in the crash in Sarigerme, on Monday, holiday firm First Choice said.

A third person is in a critical condition and two others received minor injuries.

Mr Pearce's neighbour Chris Whitby said they were part of a "close family".

Mr Pearce and his daughter were reported to have been in the same vehicle on a 4x4 safari in Dalyan, which had not been organised by First Choice, the holiday firm said.

'Very devoted'

The family were part of a larger group excursion and are receiving consular advice while local police investigate the incident.

Ms Whitby, of Primrose Hill, Smethwick, said she was shocked to hear what had happened.

She said: "They really are a lovely family - such a hard-working family, they work such long hours."

She added: "They are very involved with their family - a very devoted family.

"They do everything together and all the relatives come round."

Ms Whitby said Mr Pearce ran a nearby florist and had previously worked for Sandwell Council's garden department.

Ken Fisher, from Sandwell Council, said: "He was a good lad and a real character. He'll be sadly missed and we're all thinking of his family."

His daughter attended Annie Lennard Infant School, Smethwick.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the school said: "Charley was a lovely little girl from a delightful family. The whole school will be devastated."

The "Jeep Safari" day-long tour, run by Sarigermetours Travel Agency, has no age limit, but under-14s must be accompanied by an adult, the company's website said.

It warns people taking part they they "will get wet - make sure you take water guns with you".

The tours start by visiting "typical Turkish villages", followed by off-roading to lakes, mountains and canyons.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that two British nationals died and seven were injured in a road traffic accident whilst on a Jeep safari in Turkey.

"We understand the driver of the Jeep they were in is being detained."

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Two die in holiday crash