A FUND is being set up to support the five children who lost their mothers in last Thursday's horrific lorry accident, following a huge outpouring of public grief.

Aitchisons Estate Agents, at the centre of the tragedy, has asked the Free Press to start a trust fund to help the children who face an uncertain future without their mothers.

Widowed Maggie Doel, 48, and Sally Jamieson, 40, were killed in the accident when the lorry, loaded with bricks, ploughed through the front window of the estate agents in Easton Street, High Wycombe.

Money raised will help support Maggie's children, Gary, 22, Mark, 20, and Tim 15, and Sally's two children, Benjamin, four, and Joshua, two.

The public has already shown its support in floral tributes laid at the scene of the tragedy and in letters and e-mails sent to the Free Press.

Aitchisons spokesman Fiona Southey said the company had been flooded with offers of help and added: "We have had people ringing up asking if there was somewhere where they could donate money."

High Wycombe Mayor Nigel Vickery has pledged his support and urged others to do whatever possible saying: "We will support them and do anything that we can for the families."

The trust fund could make a vital difference to both families as it may be two years before they receive any compensation.

Stephen Gasper, a solicitor with High Wycombe firm Bruce Lance, said the insurance companies may make interim compensation payments, although this was not guaranteed.

Maggie's son Gary said how grateful his family is for all the support they had been shown from the town. He added: "The memorial fund will be a great help to us, particularly in helping Tim to continue with his studies as Maggie would have wanted."

Gary and his brothers had already suffered a tragedy after losing their father Terry in a road accident in 1989.

Sally's husband Simon welcomed news of the fund and said it was something his wife would have wanted. He said: "I do not know what the future holds for us at the moment."

The trust fund is being set up and managed by Linnells, a firm of solicitors based in Bicester, who have agreed not to charge for their services.

Show you care by sending donations made out to 'Doel and Jamieson Fund, Ref MNE', to: James Clements, Bucks Free Press, Gomm Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 7DW.

The trust, approved by the families of both victims, is being administered for free by Linnells of Bicester. All money will be received strictly on the basis that it will be distributed by need to the two families and will be given to the children of Maggie Doel and Sally Jamieson.