As a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the accident in Lansdown Lane, Bath, last Monday, First bus drivers in the city will swap their normal uniforms to wear black on Monday, February 23.

They will also raise air ambulance funds as one of the most critically injured people was flown to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Three men in a car and a four-year-old walking to school all died when a 32-tonne vehicle went of control last Monday.

Prayers were said for the four victims of the tragedy yesterday at All Saints' Church, just a mile away from the crash site.

Rector Patrick Whitworth said: "There's a lot of tenderness around in the community and that comes as a result of the tragedy.

"Prayers were said for the community of Weston and all those who are mourning, hurting, perplexed and shocked."

Tipper truck driver Phillip Potter, 19, from Dauntsey, was transporting aggregate for a Grittenham when the crash happened.

Four-year-old Mitzi Steady died when she was walking with her grandmother, who remains critically ill in hospital.

Also killed were recently married taxi driver Stephen Vaughan, 34, company director Phil Allen, 52 and 59-year-old Robert Parker. All three, who were travelling in the same car, were from south Wales.

Police accident investigators are still trying to establish the cause of the accident.

Today, in a statement, the bus company said: "First bus drivers and back office workers – like so many others in Bath – have been deeply affected by the tragedy that struck earlier this month.

"The incident on Lansdown Lane unfolded in front of a bus operating as normal on Service 14, and while not directly involved in it, the driver was unfortunately witness to the incident that unfolded in front of him.

Staff and managers at bus company First West of England now plan to do what they can to mark the tragedy, and the devastating loss of life, by allowing front line staff to swap their normal uniforms to ‘dress black’ as a mark of respect on Monday, February 23.

"All staff taking part and dressing black will be donating money to the air ambulance and collection tins will also be made available on selected buses, and in the Bath Travel Shop, on the day should any passengers wish to contribute too."

First managing director James Freeman said: “What happened in Bath was truly devastating for all involved and so it’s right that we mark this in some way, paying our collective respects to those who lost their lives.

“We hope that any money we are able to raise will be well used by the air ambulance service, supporting the fantastic work that they do.”

A relative of Mr Potter, who asked not to be named, told the Western Daily Press: “He's a lovely person. He is quite reserved in some respects but he is a lovely person.

"He's loyal and a hard working nice man.

"Nobody wants to be in this situation. It is all very, very difficult.

"He's one of these people that you know the last thing he would want to be involved in is a situation where there has been an accident. Nobody wants to be involved in that.

"If you could change tomorrow, or change yesterday, wouldn't you just?

"It's like all accidents, we just wish we weren't there at that particular time. We would all change it.

"We all feel very sorry about it all.

"You just have to try and get your life back on track.

"If I was involved in any accident and it was really not good, I would never drive again."

She added: "I gave him a big hug the other day and I said to him we are all with you and feel for you."