FAMILIES who lost relatives and loved ones on Oxfordshire's roads came together to remember their losses at a special commemorative service.

Sunday's memorial service brought together officers from Thames Valley Police, firefighters, paramedics, ambulance technicians and hospital staff who, together with more than 100 mourners, blessed rose petals in memory of all those killed.

This year the service had a particular poignancy, coming after a teenage student and former teacher at Henry Box School, Witney, were hit by cars and killed in separate incidents.

Thirteen-year-old Andrew Edwards died in Ducklington Lane on Friday night, just 24 hours after Christine Diacon was killed on the A40 slip road near High Cogges.

The number of people killed on Oxfordshire's roads since 2004 now stands at 172.

Jenny Plenty from Carterton lost her daughter, son-in-law and grandson in an accident at the notorious Gangsdown Hill blackspot, near Nettlebed, on September 28, 2003. She said: "I think the service was outstanding, it was very moving but it broke my heart that so many families had to go through what I have been through.

"I will never come to terms with what I have lost, but the service was very comforting."

Families and friends gathered at St Mary the Virgin Church in Thame for the ceremony, which was led by Forces chaplain David Wilbraham and the Bishop of Buckingham.

Afterwards, many praised the efforts emergency services.

Andrew Battye, operations manager for South Central Ambulance Service, said: "The sad effect of dealing with so many deaths on the roads is that it does have an effect on us.

"It is nice to come and share in the families' grief, because we have had some involvement with them."

Sara Thornton, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, said: "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose someone and it clearly is one of the most difficult things for people to cope with.

"Anything that Thames Valley Police can do to help people through that, we want to do.

"I think this service shows the police service being part of the community and wanting to do something extra."