Disaster's trauma made David Rimmer's children forget him

The children of David George Rimmer, 38, from Skelmersdale read his pen portrait to the inquests. It was written by his widow Linda Kirby.

She described how the pair fell in love and integrated into her family from early on. She also said he had a "good, if not stupid, sense of humour.

"He was a practical joker at times. He loved dad’s army and Allo Allo. I took the kids on many walks to get away from his attempts at DIY. I guess no one is good at everything."

"Dave loved his children. He used to read bed-time stories to them, especially Kate. He would make up stories and tell them. When he died Kate was 7. She asked me to tell her the stories her Daddy used to tell her but I didn't know them."

"The children don't really have any memories of him now. It is as if though their brain has blocked the memories because to remember would be too traumatic. Kate made up stories sometimes. I never used to say they were just stories as made-up memories were real to her. Paul was 9 when his dad died."