MOURNERS in Strensall were urged not to let the "evil" and "vile" murders of James and Joan Britton paralyse their community.

In a poignant service at St Mary The Virgin Church, in Strensall, the Rev Martin Harrison, told the congregation he was left pondering the question "why?" the Brittons and the Sanderson twins were murdered.

Mr Harrison said the community had reacted with both shock and concern for other elderly people in the area. He said the sight of the Brittons' house surrounded by police officers had "acted as a sign, a terrible sign that a week ago wickedness and evil visited our village, possibly evil in its vilest and lowest form.

"Evil that takes away the lives of innocent and defenceless people.The murders show just how low we can go as human beings compared to the passion of a living God. I'm encouraged that it's God who will have the final say."

Mr Harrison, who led prayers and a minute's silence for the victims, said they owed it to them to "remain in love".

"We must confront the reality that life goes on," he said.

Worshipper Sylvia Errington, 63, from Strensall, worked with Mr Britton on the railways when she was in her 20s.

"Mr Britton was a very quiet, lovely man," she said.

Updated: 07:46 Monday, July 26, 2004