FRIENDS of a 50-year-old Wycombe man killed in floods in Australia have spoken of their shock at his tragic death.

Paul Neighbour, a former cabinetmaker born in High Wycombe, had been driving back from a friend's house where he had watched The Blues' titanic quarter-final clash with Leicester City when his car was swept away by flood waters.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, March 11, in Queensland.

Paul Neighbour married his wife Carolyn, a teacher at Marsh County First School in Abbey Barn Road, in 1975 and the couple lived in Deangarden Rise from 1977.

They were devout churchgoers at St Peter's Church, Loudwater, and Mr Neighbour gave guitar lessons to aspiring musicians in the town. Mr Neighbour's son and daughter attended Loudwater Combined School.

Nigel Peach, a close friend of Mr Neighbour, spoke of his sadness at his friend's death. He said : "We were godparents to his children and he to ours. Carolyn phoned us up on Saturday evening our time to tell us what had happened. It was a shock.

"They celebrated their silver wedding last year and Paul's 50th birthday 2000 was a good year for them."

Jeff Hughes, who worked with Mr Neighbour at High Wycombe College in 1991, just before the couple emigrated to Australia, said he could hardly believe it when he heard the news. He added: "It was a real shock. He was a devout church man."

Mr Neighbour was driving back from the gathering where he had been watching the game with his son Andrew and other Wycombe exiles with a family friend who escaped from the car.

Mr Neighbour's devastated wife, Carolyn, said: "He loved that team.

"Paul's been following them since he was a little boy and he encouraged Andrew to do the same. He could tell you anything about them."