A vicar has hit out at a bank which mailed accidental death insurance advice just days after the Paddington rail crash.

Barclays Bank has since apologised for the blunder which saw it send pamphlets on increasing their accidental death insurance cover to existing customers, including those in Didcot, where many commuters boarded the doomed train .

The Rev Philip Dallaway, of All Saints' Church in Didcot, has held special services and opened his church for rail passengers to talk about the tragedy. He said: "It is an unfortunate mistake that will be upsetting.

"I suppose they print these things a long time in advance.

"It is a pity someone in authority didn't stop to think and double-check.

"But that is the way things are in big business and banking now.

"There is an overwhelming feeling of thanksgiving in Didcot. People have been coming into the church to light candles, pray or talk about the crash. People are very sad but also grateful they survived." A statement from the bank said: "Barclays has an on-going programme of customer mailings, covering all of its product range. Mailings are planned many months in advance and are sent to a wide range of customers across the whole of the country.

"The mailing relating to accidental death insurance was in no way connected to last week's tragic rail accident.

"We are extremely sorry if the timing - which was entirely coincidental - has in any way upset customers."

Story date: Thursday 14 October

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