More than 200 mourners paid tribute to artist Harry Lucy yesterday - 13 days after he died when his car was in a crash with two Porsches.

Mourners included his wife Claudie, 54, who left hospital to be among family and friends at St Helen's Church in Abingdon.

Mrs Lucy, seriously injured in the same crash which killed her 82-year-old husband, followed his coffin into the church with the aid of a walking stick.

During the service, she asked for a special prayer to be read out by Rev Peter Challenger on her behalf, thanking Harry for the love he gave her. Mr Lucy and his second wife had been on their way to celebrate his granddaughter Emma Chester's 21st birthday when the accident happened on the B4494 Wantage to Newbury road.

During the service, Emma read out a poem written by her granddad, which her family had found among his paperwork.

The service sheet also featured two of the talented pensioner's paintings. One depicted a riverside scene in Abingdon, featuring the church where the service took place.

Alongside the second painting was a quote written by Mr Lucy, which read "Would you share my life even if it be for a short while?"

The artist, of Home Close, Wootton, had married his first wife, Ann, in 1938. They had two children, Kelvin, who runs his own newsagents in Bath Street, Abingdon, and Susan.

Ann died after a long illness in 1994. Mr Lucy then remarried Claudie after a chance meeting at a bus stop. One of his friends told mourners: "Harry's death has touched us all, not least those nearest and dearest to him, but I would offer this small crumb of comfort.

"Harry has touched us all and part of him will run off on to us. This part will remain with us, and remain with us from generation to generation."

Mr Lucy's family held a smaller private service for him at Wootton Methodist Church after the St Helen's service.

The two Porsche drivers involved in the accident, Steve Shaddick, 35, and Raymond Boyd, 36 - have been released on bail until September. They have been questioned by police on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

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