The former chairman of Golders Green Conservatives was killed on Thursday when his car crushed him against a wall.

Peter Bird, 58, was de-icing his car in his drive when it rolled into him, pinning him against the wall causing fatal chest injuries.

The father-of-two was found by his wife Margaret, 56, outside their home in Grampian Gardens, Cricklewood.

She said: "I thought he had taken a long time so I went to look outside. The car had moved and he was pinned against the wall.

"I couldn't do anything for ages because I didn't know how to move the car and he was a big man. I felt so helpless. I just went berserk and screamed."

An ambulance was called at 9am but found Mr Bird dead at the scene.

Mr Bird became chairman of the Hendon South Conservatives in 1993 and continued after it was changed the following year to Finchley and Golders Green ward until 1996.

He had left because his job with the civil service no longer allowed outside political interest.

Friend and colleague of 12 years Fred Grundy said his death was a sad loss to the community.

He said: "Peter was very popular and well respected.

"I feel so very sad for his family and personally miss him, but he also had a great breadth of value in the community and did a very valuable job for the country."

The funeral will be held tomorrow at 3pm in All Saints Church in Church Walk, Childs Hill.