Ref. 75862-48 Among those pinning up flowers and tributes was former RAF and civilian firefighter, Dan Gurney from West SwindonTHE community of Lyneham will strengthen after the tragedy of the Hercules crash over Iraq according to its vicar.

The Reverend Anthony Fletcher, priest in charge of Lyneham and Bradenstoke, said that the entire community was in disbelief.

"Almost everyone in the community of Lyneham has a link with the base, whether they work there, have friends stationed there or are retired from the Royal Air Force," he said.

"I think everyone will share this sense of loss."

The Rev Fletcher, who served in the RAF for 22 years and spent a year at Lyneham in 1999 added: "Everyone knows the risks of those serving in Iraq but they put it to the back of their minds. They are doing a dangerous job and they do it well.

"Currently the station chaplains will be dealing with the families themselves, but we are supporting the rest of the community.

"Unfortunately this is a natural consequence of war which everyone accepts as part of life, but you never want it to happen."

The vicar has opened the church to let people express their thoughts, while a candle burns in memory of the aircrew.

Just yards from the gate stands the former home of father of three, Flt Lt Paul Pardoel. Early in the day RAF police officers arrived to guard the home and clear away the front of the home of children's toys a stark reminder of the human tragedy of the incident.

Outside the main gate of the base bunches of flowers were piled up with messages of support to families one placed down on the grass, addressed to 'My best friend and his brave crew mate,' others simply said 'God bless them.'

Among those pinning up flowers and tributes was former RAF and civilian firefighter, Dan Gurney from West Swindon.

Attaching a bright red poppy to a post around which the flowers stood, he said: "This is a very upsetting event, I was here when they were bringing back the bodies from the Hercules crash in Scotland, its always awful when it happens so close to home."

One shopkeeper, who didn't want to be named said the whole village was mourning for the personnel.

She said: "We all feel sorry for the families and people affected by what has happened, we keep on hearing new things about what happened, but its all speculation, now we need to look after those people affected and let them mourn."

Others simply said they were devastated and shocked by the news of the crash and that an Arab insurgent organisation had claimed responsibility.

Another shopworker in the village said: "This is quite awful, my boyfriend is in the RAF and you are left wondering if the people who have died are friends' husbands or other people you might know."