A SEA of flowers covers the pavement outside Aitchisons Estate Agents where a lorry crash claimed the lives of two mothers.

The flowers began to appear on Friday morning as the town struggled to come to terms with the enormity of such a tragedy.

Maggie Doel, 48, had been working as a negotiator at the firm for just one week and was talking to customer Sally Jamieson, 40, when both women were swept away by the truck.

Crash survivor Royston Davis was thrown to one side and could only watch as the lorry ploughed past him and carried on through to the back of the shop.

The tragedy has left five children without their mothers. Maggie's sons Gary, 22, Mark, 20, and Tim, 15, are comforting each other at the family home in Main Road, Lacey Green.

Sally's sons Benjamin, four, and Joshua, two, are at home with their father Simon in Wycombe Road, Stokenchurch.

The bunches of flowers have given huge comfort to Maggie's family and her three sons and daughter-in-law say they have been greatly touched by the messages on the bouquets left by well-wishers.

Shaken survivor Royston, a partner at the estate agents, tried to save Maggie after being inches away from death himself.

The 39-year-old miraculously escaped with his life last Thursday and described how he tried to crawl through the wreckage to get to the two women who had been trapped.

"All I could see was the lorry coming past and I knew Maggie and the lady were at the back of the shop, but there was nothing I could do. The next minute they were gone," he said.

"The lorry was literally inches away as it came past and I was stuck between that and the wall. For some reason I had stood up while making a phone call. I think that saved my life.

"I tried to get to Maggie and the customer but it was blocked with rubble."

Royston said he spotted a gap at the front of the shop and pushed his way out to get help.

At this point terrified on-lookers described him, covered in dust and still holding the receiver of the phone that was ripped away by the force of the lorry.

Maggie had been friends with Royston for several years and he said his heart goes out to the families of those who have been left devastated by the horrific accident.

He said: "All I can think about is Maggie and her family. She was the most wonderful lady and we had only just been talking about how proud she was of her sons.

"I had just smiled at the lady [Sally] who came into the shop just before it happened. I wish it had been me rather than Maggie. I can't believe I got out alive."

Police say there will be months of investigation into the incident.

Amersham traffic PC Andy Wayland, was at the scene moments after the crash.

"The crash is under investigation. Witnesses suggested that they saw the lorry coming down and the driver was having difficulty," he said.

"We are examining, among other possibilities, that the brakes may have failed. I came down just after the crash and there was debris everywhere and just an eerie silence."

Witness Clare Burchett, was on the phone at Grants Residential Lettings, Crendon Street, and heard the terrifying noise as the lorry rumbled down at speed.

She said: "I heard the sound of banging metal coming down the road at incredible speed. You could tell something was wrong as he was tooting his horn so wildly.

"There were people at the junction and in the middle of the island at the bottom of the hill.

"Two people jumped out of the way. I saw a man come out of the estate agents covered in rubble with a phone dangling from his hand. He just looked pale and in shock."

Michelle Lenton, of Roger Platt Estate Agents, Crendon Street, was also on the phone when she hear a loud hurtling noise outside.

"I heard an awful racket and just caught sight of the lorry as it whizzed by the shop at a tremendous speed.

"It was quite obvious that something had gone horribly wrong there was no screeching from his brakes like you would expect, just the horn being blasted and next thing there was just a great crashing sound.

"I ran out of the shop and saw rubble and dust everywhere and people running towards the scene."

Rychard Goddard, manager of Wycombe Wines, Crendon Street, said: "I ran out of the shop and saw people running down, others on mobiles and others just standing outside their offices. You feel so helpless and I was very shook up. It was a nightmare, absolutely horrible."

An inquest into the deaths was due to be opened and adjourned yesterday.

The driver of the lorry, from Bedfordshire, was arrested and later released on police bail.

Witnesses should call PC Gerry Byrne at High Wycombe Police 01494 465888.