HOW many people could call at a house and tell the occupants that their loved one has been killed in a road accident?

Most of us cannot imagine what we would say.

But for police officers Andy Rogers and Marc Guillot, the task is an all-too-familiar one.

It is part of their role as family liaison officers in Salisbury Police's traffic department.

All police forces have adopted the Road Death Manual, a document that details how the police will deal with and investigate road-related deaths, and all family liaison officers go on courses, as well as having in-house training.

Marc and Andy have been in Wiltshire Police 11 years and in the traffic department five years.

They deal with about four or five cases at the same time.

Andy sees the role as looking after the needs of people in the aftermath of a serious or fatal accident.

Marc adds the importance of keeping updated colleagues who are investigating the cause of an accident. "We are not just there to offer tea and sympathy," he says.

"We are the link between the police investigation team and the family - both ask questions and want information."

Family liaison officers go to the scene of every serious or fatal accident, take charge of the victim's property, visit his or her next of kin once positive identification has been established and take the relatives to the hospital or arrange to meet them there.

If family members live far away, the local police force will be asked to contact them.

Andy says: "Some people who are local and have a lot of family may not need a lot of support from us, whereas an elderly lady with no family may need a lot more."

Andy and Marc will help arrange accommodation for relatives who have travelled a long way and may also broach the subject of organ donation, if appropriate.

They also offer bereavement booklets and can refer people to other agencies, such as social services, funeral directors, solicitors and Cruse.

"We are not trained counsellors," Andy points out, "and have to be careful not to overstep the mark, but we have had nothing but thanks from families for what we are doing."

Both officers bring particular skills and experience to the role: Andy has been in nursing in the army, so is used to dealing with death, and Marc's brother was killed in a road accident four years ago.

Marc says: "I have a very good idea how these people are feeling."

He adds: "I would like to think people get a good impression of Wiltshire police and how we have dealt with them at what is a very difficult and tragic time. And I would like to think that, if the same thing happened to us, we would get the same level of support."