THE motorist whose car smashed into an historic archway at Castle Howard has been named as Christian Hobbin, a York train driver.

The 42-year-old worked for TransPennine Express, which operates passenger services between York and other northern cities including Manchester and Liverpool.

He lived in Roman Avenue North, Stamford Bridge - the home village of another man who crashed into the same archway in November 2005.

Only three months prior to that tragedy, a 23-year-old University of York student tragically died after crashing into the archway.

Hilary Saynor, a former Stamford Bridge parish council chairwoman and district councillor, said today it was "staggeringly sad" that two people from the same community should have died at the same location.

"It's so, so sad for the families. I think it's extremely sad for the families and the wider community," she said.

"It's an absolutely dreadful thing to happen."

A spokesman for First TransPennine Express said: "The company was yesterday made aware of the tragic incident and expressed its deepest sympathy to Mr Hobbin's family on behalf of all his colleagues.

"Drivers and conductors based at York were very shocked to hear the sad news about such a well-regarded employee."

The Press reported in 1998 how Mr Hobbin and Deborah Etheridge had decided they wanted a wedding with a difference and dressed up in fancy costumes when they got married at a church in Driffield. The bride wore a fetching hooped dress in Regency black and gold paisley, while the groom was togged out in Regency-style dress, complete with knee-length breeches, tights, and buckled shoes.