Church leaders have decided not to take part in a national Millennium candle scheme after a family's double tragedy.

Council worker Viv Slade and his stepson, David Pettifer, both died in a blaze at their home in Springfield Road, Wantage, in January.

The fire was caused by candles which had been left burning all night, an inquest heard.

Mr Slade's widow, Rose, who has three surviving sons and two daughters, moved back into the house a fortnight ago.

But church leaders decided to shun a nationwide scheme put forward by Churches Together in England to provide people with candles to light on New Year's Eve.

The vicar of Wantage, Fr John Salter, met with colleagues to discuss the project.

Fr Peter Turbitt, from St John Vianney Catholic church, the Rev Barrie Taylor, pastor at Wantage Baptist Church, and Mark Soppitt of the Wantage community church, all agreed not to participate in the scheme.

Fr Salter said: "To encourage people to light candles on New Year's Eve of all nights and leave them burning seemed to me to be a harebrained scheme."

Story date: Monday 11 October

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