AN 83-year-old man was killed in a car crash as he drove his recalled Peugeot to a dealership to be checked, it emerged last night.

Police are investigating whether the death of Liskeard town crier Frank Beer, on the A30 near Launceston, may have been caused by a potentially faulty accelerator.

Mr Beer's three-year-old car was one of 6,000 semi-automatic Peugeot 107s subject to a recall issued by French car maker Peugeot Citroen.

The cars were made in Europe with Toyota, which has recalled millions of cars worldwide with faulty pedals.

Mr Beer's vehicle crashed with a Land Rover at around 12.30pm on Wednesday.

He was on his way to an appointment at the Truscotts car dealership in Launceston to have the accelerator checked.

Last night, his family said they were "devastated".

His son, Tim Beer, a former police officer, said: "We want to know if the vehicle was responsible for the accident or not.

"My father's dead, you can't bring him back. If there's a problem with Peugeot, how many other people might face that problem?"

The accident happened on the A30 at Two Lanes, Lewannick, near Launceston in North Cornwall. Mr Beer died at the scene, while the Land Rover driver, a 44-year-old woman from West Sussex, was described as "walking wounded".

Tim Beer explained that after the incident he found a diary at his father's home in Pensilva, which recorded a 1.45pm appointment at the dealership.

Truscotts confirmed to Mr Beer – and the Western Morning News – that the 83-year-old was expected at the dealership on Wednesday afternoon and the car was under recall.

Mr Beer informed Devon and Cornwall police of the recall notice. He went on: "It's very easy to say he was 83 and it was the fault of the driver, but the car at that time was subject to a vehicle recall and it was on its way to the garage."

All semi-automatic transmission Peugeot 107s were recalled in February at the same time as Citroen C1s.

Both models are made in a Czech plant, a joint venture with Toyota that assembles around 200,000 Peugeot and Citroen cars every year.

There are concerns the pedals fitted in the Peugeot Citroen and Toyota cars may stick when in the depressed position, causing a sudden acceleration.

A Peugeot Citroen spokesman said of around 3,000 107s that had already been checked, none were found to have a fault.

They said: "We are aware of the accident. We cannot comment because we are awaiting police reports. When we know more we can comment."

Asked whether officers would be investigating whether the potentially faulty throttle had any effect on the incident, a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police directed the WMN to a statement on its website.

It read: "Both vehicles were examined at the scene and further mechanical investigations will be carried out now the cars have been removed from the highway, as is standard practice following such collisions."

Mr Beer, a father of two and grandfather of two, was born in Plymouth and served in the Royal Navy for 22 years.

On leaving the Navy, he was a special education teacher in Plymouth before, on retiring, becoming Liskeard's town crier.

His son said: "I spoke to him a few days ago and although he was 83 there was nothing wrong with him. Thankfully, the people involved in the other vehicle were described as walking wounded.

"If there are potential problems, the manufacturers need to get these cars in and dealt with as soon as possible."

Last night, Liskeard mayor Tony Powell described Mr Beer as "an iconic figure for the town". He said: "Frank was immensely proud of his role in representing the town as town crier. He was not just a servant to the town council but also a servant to the town he loved.

"He was an iconic figure for the town, and represented it with dignity. He was a wonderful advocate for the town and will be so deeply missed."