THE town of Callington is mourning the loss of two of its well-known residents following a tragic accident last Saturday night.

Yvonne Doney, 44, and Terry Rowe, 39, were in a BMW saloon which was in collision with a large petrol station sign and the wall of a cottage at St Ann's Chapel. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor who arrived shortly afterwards.

The tragedy was compounded when Mrs Doney's husband, who was one of the retained fire crew which attended the incident, discovered his wife was one of the victims.

He and his colleagues are now being supported by the brigade. The couple were separated and had two children.

Inspector Marilyn Wignall from Plympton traffic unit said both families had been devastated by the accident and family liaison officers were helping them come to terms with the tragedy.

She said 'atrocious' weather conditions and heavy rain had preceded the accident.

Mrs Doney was a hairdresser in Callington, and Mr Rowe, who grew up in Horrabridge, was a builder in the town.

The accident happened at around 10.30pm on the A390 Callington to Gunnislake road, when the car — owned by Mrs Doney but driven by Mr Rowe — was in collision with the illuminated forecourt sign at Henwood's Filling Station and the front wall of an adjacent cottage.

Police said it was believed the car had been travelling towards Gunnislake. No other vehicle was involved.

The filling station was closed at the time. The resident of the cottage, Douglas Browne, was preparing for bed at the time of the collision.

Fire crews from Callington, Bere Alston and Bodmin attended the scene and police and firefighters worked through the night to clear the wreckage.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, or anyone who saw the car immediately beforehand, to contact them.

They are also eager to trace a light-coloured vehicle and its occupants, who were seen travelling towards St Ann's Chapel along the A390 near Kit Hill at about that time.

The vehicle was overtaken by a marked police van.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt Bryan Hancock at Devon and Cornwall Police on 08705 77744, quoting log number 1369 of January 26.