Two die after hit-and-run tragedy (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Two die after hit-and-run tragedy

A COTSWOLD father is believed to have killed himself after a hit and run accident, which killed a 22-year-old bakery manager.

Phillip Grice, aged 22, died after being hit by a car on the A429 Burford Road, at around 12.30am on Sunday.

The force of the impact was so great it threw him over a five foot high wall and police immediately launched an appeal to trace a Saab with frontal damage.

A vehicle fitting the description was later found outside a business premises on the town's Love Lane Industrial Estate.

The body of a man, named locally as 42-year-old Maurice Anderson, was found inside the building.

The family of Mr Anderson, who owned and ran Love Lane engineering firm M.A.P., were too upset to talk.

But friends of Phillip, better known as Phill, spoke of their affection for the "fun-loving" bakery manager, who worked for the Hare's Bush branch of Somerfield.

Store manager Joy Teale said: "He was very easy going. There wasn't a person he didn't get on with. He was looking forward to furthering his career and was taking a duty manager's course.

"We're all distraught. It's a small environment here where everyone knows everyone - it's like a family.

"We have a lot of regular customers and they're missing him as well."

His friend Paul Tedford, who is the store's cash and administration officer, said: "He was a close friend. He was bubbly, dedicated to his job and always up for a laugh.

"I was distraught when I heard. I got a phone call saying he'd been hit by a car."

Friend and colleague Anthony Philipson, who was with Phill when the accident happened, did not want to talk about the accident. "All I want to say is he was an amazing guy," he said.

Friends say Phill, whose family live in Bromsgrove, moved to Cirencester eight months ago to take up the position at Somerfield.

It was there he met girlfriend Zoe Milner and the two moved into a flat in Dyer Street together.

Zoe was being comforted by her family this week.

It is believed Phill had been making his way to Hare's Bush with a group of friends on Saturday night, when they stopped to talk after bumping into another group in Burford Road.

He was then struck by the Saab, which left the scene without stopping.

The body of businessman Mr Anderson, who had a young family and recently moved from Cold Aston to Guiting Power, was found on Monday.

Colleagues at M.A.P. (Maurice Anderson Partnership) declined to comment.

His wife Kathryne was also too upset to talk.

But one former neighbour in Cold Aston said: "I don't really know much about him but he had his own business and worked long hours.

"He was the sort of guy you'd bump into in the pub, say 'hi' to and buy each other a drink."

Police say they are not treating Mr Anderson's death as suspicious and that investigations are continuing into the Burford Road accident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cirencester police on 0845 090 1234 or crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

For updates and tributes see next week's Standard.