The families of three people killed in a road crash in Beaumaris nearly a year ago have paid tribute following an inquest.

A grey Audi A8 car driven by Humphrey Pickering collided with The Reverend Stephen and Katherine Burch as they were walking together on Alma Street on 28th August 2024.

Last week, senior North West Wales coroner Kate Robinson told a hearing in Caernarfon that Mr Pickering had mistakenly pressed his car's accelerator, before his car hit the couple.

All three were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision.

The family of Mr and Mrs Burch, both 65 and from Alcester, Warwickshire, said the tragedy "raises painful but important questions about the safety of both powerful and automatic vehicles in the hands of elderly drivers".

They also called for an "urgent need for stronger checks and safeguards to prevent such tragedies in future".

Paying tribute in a statement on Monday, the Burch family said: "The circumstances of our parents’ death are tragic and deeply painful. While we trust they are now with God, the loss to us is immeasurable."

"They were struck and killed in a collision involving a high-powered automatic vehicle, driven at speed through a 20mph street."

They continued: "Ahead of the inquest, I visited Beaumaris with my husband, our son, and my closest friend. We were reminded again of the beauty of this town our parents loved, a place that will always hold a special place in our hearts."

"Our grief is monumental. Yet this year has also been marked by hope and faith. Our parents lived with unshakeable confidence in God and in the death and resurrection of Jesus, a peace that continues to sustain us and bring comfort in the midst of our loss."

"We are deeply grateful to the emergency services and all who showed care and courage at the scene. We also recognise the trauma experienced by witnesses and sincerely appreciate the many expressions of sympathy and support we have received."

In a separate tribute, the family of Humphrey Pickering (81) from Colwyn Bay described him as a “much-loved husband, father, grand and great-grandfather, brother and uncle” who will be “terribly missed by us all.”

They said: "Humphrey Pickering was a lifelong learner who loved travel, learning new languages and experiencing new cultures."

"His career centred around libraries, learning, and bringing knowledge to communities throughout Europe and as far away as the South Pacific. He was a valued colleague, boss, friend, and mentor to many."

"In retirement. he continued to serve his community through volunteering and was a member of rotary and town-twinning. He was also a keen gardener, tending his trees, flowers, and vegetables throughout the year."

"Our family want to thank the emergency services and members of the public who assisted at the scene, and to those who provided care and support to our mother, especially the staff at the Bulkley Hotel, who kept her safe until we were able to come to Beaumaris to be by her side."

"We also want to thank those who have worked tirelessly since, to uncover the events of that day and provide an explanation of what happened on that fateful day."

"These answers will help us move forward in our grief and are a small step towards our family accepting this tragic accident and the devastating loss to both our family and the family of Revd Stephen and Katherine Burch."

"We extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the Burch family, we are devastated for their loss, a loss that will always weigh heavily on us. We hope the outcome of the inquest will also help them in some small way."