RALLY star Michael Park is being mourned by race fans nationwide, as well as his family and friends around Ledbury, following his death on Sunday.

Mr Park, 39, co-driver to the Estonian Markko Martin, died when their Peugoet 307 hit a tree during stage 15 of the Wales GB Rally.

Mr Martin, with whom Mr Park notched up his first World Rally Championship win in Greece in 2003, was uninjured.

Speaking yesterday (Thursday), his wife Marie thanked local people for their support. "I feel so safe and secure and the children are also doing remarkably well," she said.

Flags flew at half-mast as the rally finished at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and a minute's silence was observed.

Stars from the rallying world are expected to attend the funeral at Much Marcle's St Bartholomew's Church on Thursday, October 6, at noon.

Mr Park, one of ten children, grew up in Much Marcle and was christened and married at the village church. Marie is also from the village. The couple's children, Victoria, 10 and William, seven, both attend Much Marcle Primary School, as their parents did before them. The couple recently moved to Dymock.

Donations towards some form of memorial have been requested, not flowers.

Mr Park was a strong supporter of Ledbury Carnival and would even return from overseas rallies to make the August Bank Holiday Monday event. This year, he drove one of the floats as his children rode on the back.

Carnival committee member Andy Ward has been a friend of Mr Park's for 25 years. He said: "The atmosphere around the town since Sunday has been one of shock and disbelief. He was a lovely person, with an infectious laugh and he will be missed by so many people."

His support for local events included providing a Ford Focus rally car for the first English Festival.

Mr Park was also well-known for organising a New Year shoot at Eastnor, usually attended by many of his friends from the world of rallying, as well as local people.

Mr Park attended John Masefield High School in Ledbury, leaving in 1982.