A FUNERAL service for a devoted husband and wife who died together in a motorbike accident will take place in Bury today.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to pack Christ Church Walmersley to pay their last respects to Keith and Elaine Lowcock who were killed after being thrown from their machine in a horror road accident in Lancashire.

Mr Lowcock, aged 55, and his 48-year-old wife, were on a Honda CBR 1100 on the A682 Burnley Road, near Gisburn, travelling towards Barrowford.

The bike went out of control on a left hand bend and crashed into a fence close to Howgill Lane on Saturday, October 16. Mr Lowcock was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife, who was a pillion passenger, was airlifted to hospital in Leeds but died a short time later.

Although the couple lived in Heywood, Mr Lowcock was born and raised in Walmersley, Bury, and attended Seedfield School. His brother lives in the town.

The couple leave two children, Christopher Lowcock, aged 29, and 24-year-old Lindsay Lowcock who, in a joint statement, said: “No words can truly express this devastating and endless loss of our mother and father.

“We feel empty without them and we will feel empty until the day we meet once more. They were kind and loving people. They were married for 30 years.”

Speaking to The Bury Times, Christopher Lowcock told how he was travelling behind his parents when the accident happened. “I tried to resuscitate my father. But nothing could be done. He was gone in an instant.”

He said he and his parents had been returning home after a day trip to Coniston. “We had set off from Bury at noon and left Coniston about 4.30pm to make our way back.”

He added: “We’d had a really nice day. I was on a bike behind them when the accident happened. Someone else stopped and gave my mum first aid.

“I miss them terribly. They were loved by everybody. I’m in a really bad way and so distraught. They were my best friends.”

His father had run his own aerial and satellite firm and was a keen photographer. Mrs Lowcock was particularly interested in antiques.

l Today’s funeral service will take place at 1.30pm followed by burial at Heywood Cemetery at 3pm.