THREE members of a Ledbury family heading off on holiday were among those killed in the motorway carnage on the M56 near Manchester Airport.

Ledbury businessman Martin McCoig-Lees, his wife Denise and their son Ryan died when the Leyland DAF minibus they were in collided with a car and then hit the central reservation.

Their other 15-year-old son, Richard, survived but is being treated in hospital.

An older son, Matthew, is being comforted by his grandparents.

Residents in Ledbury, where the family own a newsagents, were devastated by the news.

A woman who laid flowers outside the shop Homend News, on The Homend, with the message "God Bless" struggled to hold back her tears.

"I knew them for a long, long time.

"He was brilliant. He was a Manchester United supporter and so am I so I used to talk to him about that."

The woman also spoke affectionately about Denise.

"His wife liked a good gossip," she added.

"We used to gossip all the time and their little boy was lovely."

Reverend Simon Minsull, who was pastor of Ledbury Baptist Church, which is just yards from their business, said he used to go in to the shop three or four times a week.

"He was a really nice, friendly and helpful guy."

The owner of a nearby business said they were a really nice family.

"No one can believe it has happened."

One regular customer said Mr McCoig-Lees had been going to the newsagents to buy his paper for longer than he could remember.

"It's tragic. I can't believe it. He was a very good man."

Four other people, two men and two women, died in the crash, which happened yesterday at 5.40am close to Junction 4 of the motorway, near Manchester Airport.