RESIDENTS in Swindon's unofficial Polish twin town, Torun have been mourning the Pope.

In 2003 Swindon entered into a friendship and cooperation agreement with the city in Poland.

Karol Wojtyla visited Torun three times before he became Pope.

He returned to the city on June 7 1999. When he left after a packed day, 300,000 people saw him off at the airport.

Now the mood in Torun is more sombre. Clubs, theatres and cinemas have closed and concerts have been postponed.

People have been signing a book of condolence in St John's Cathedral, which the Pope visited during his tour of the city.

And in Swindon, Polish people have been paying their own respects.

Before Sunday's mass at Holy Rood church, the senior Polish priest in the town, Father Stefan Orziel, said the service would be one of thanks rather than sadness.

But as the huge gathering of Polish worshippers filed out of the church, many were struggling to contain their emotions.

Maryla Smolicz is co-owner of Maryla, the Polish shop opposite Holy Rood church.

In September 2003 she was part of a group of pilgrims from Swindon who went to Rome and ended up speaking to the pontiff.

She said: "He spoke to me and asked me where we were I was from. I said 'England' and he said 'Give all my love to everyone in England'. I then thanked him and wished him good health. And then we all stood and cried. We were so emotional suddenly."

Mrs Smolicz said: "He was the most famous person Poland has ever produced.

"This son of Poland is somebody we could be really proud of."

Jan Wozniczko, 82, of Kingshill, said: "I think this is the end of hearing the Polish language at the heart of world affairs."

Mieczyslaw Przerwa, 47, a warehouseman from Toothill, said: "He was the most important Polish person."

Jadzia Zolneriowicz, 45, a PA from Covingham, said: "He was like a father to us all."

More than 96 per cent of Poles are Roman Catholic.

A service will held on Wednesday at 7.30pm at Holy Rood Church, Groundwell Road to remember Pope John Paul II.

Dave Andrew