LOCAL residents were praised last night for their kindness after a man killed in a weekend road accident was named as John Cole, who had only moved in to a Suffolk village two weeks ago from his previous home in Essex.

By David Green

LOCAL residents were praised last night for their kindness after a man killed in a weekend road accident was named as John Cole, who had only moved in to a Suffolk village two weeks ago from his previous home in Essex.

Mr Cole, 60, of The Link, Laxfield, died on Saturday morning when his car left the road in Pitsea, near Basildon, and hit a fence.

He and his partner, Janet Keeble, had only moved into Laxfield at the end of July to be near her sister, Linda Webster.

Ms Keeble was informed of the tragedy by police who knocked on the door of the couple's new home.

Ms Webster, who lives with her partner, Richard Fidgett, in Noyes Avenue, Laxfield, said Mr Cole had been on his way to spend a day on his boat, moored on the Essex coast.

“We have been told it may have been a massive heart attack. He was apparently travelling only slowly at the time of the crash and we are glad nobody else was hurt.

“My sister suffers from ill health and she is devastated by what has happened,” she said.

Ms Webster said neighbours and other residents at Laxfield had showed great kindness to her sister and Mr Cole since they had arrived in the village.

“It has been quite overwhelming. The people of Laxfield have been fantastic,” she said.

Rev Fiona Newton, vicar of Laxfield, said: “We are very saddened that such a thing should happen and so soon after the couple moved to the village.

“It is always a tragedy to lose someone so suddenly. It is really hard to bear for the family.”