The people of Welwyn Hatfield united behind the borough’s Polish community as it mourned the death of the country’s President and several high-ranking officials at a service in Hatfield today (Thursday).

President Lech Kaczynski was among 96 people who died in a plane crash in Smolensk, western Russia, on Saturday, along with many of Poland’s military, political and social elite.

This afternoon, people of various countries, cultures and backgrounds attended a service held at Hatfield fire station, where the Welwyn Hatfield Polish Forum regularly meets.

Polish Forum founder Michal Siewniak spoke at the service, thanking the people of Hertfordshire for their support, saying it proved the relationship between Polish migrants and the wider community were improving.

“It builds a stronger relationship between the Polish community and the community in Hertfordshire,” he said.

“On behalf of the Polish community, I would like to thank you for coming. The response has been overwhelming.”