A FATHER today spoke of his mixed emotions after 25 people attended the first meeting of his support group for those bereaved by suicide.

Myron Kuczer, of Elim Place, Mill Hill, set up the group in memory of his son Lee, who threw himself from Blackburn's multi-storey car park in September 2001.

And he was delighted to be able to help, despite feeling extreme sadness that so many other people had experienced a friend or family member's suicide.

The second meeting of the Blackburn branch of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) takes place tomorrow from 7pm in the Mill Hill Community Centre.

Myron, whose wife Mary helps run the group, said: "We are hoping that a similar number of people will attend.

"The first meeting went very well. I was nervous because it was something I had never done before.

"I didn't know whether I would say the right things or what they were going to expect from the meeting.

"There was a good connection between people.

"There were a few mistakes, such as someone saying the right thing at the wrong time.

"But I felt it was a success. You could tell by people's faces and by the tones of their voices that this was needed in Blackburn.

"They were a couple of sad occasions where people broke down, but this was the emotion coming out, which needed to happen because it is part of the grieving process."

Myron set up the group -- East Lancashire's first support group for those bereaved by suicide -- after feeling isolated in grief following 25 year-old Lee's death -- until he found SOBS.

He was attending the nearest branch in Bolton and resolved to help others locally by setting up a group in East Lancashire.

After over a year of planning, its first meeting was staged in February. Myron also runs a helpline on 01254 728331 for those who need support.