Hounslow's Polish community is mourning the death of a popular priest who was killed in the same plane crash that claimed the life of the country’s president.

Bronislaw Gostomski, known as Father Bronek and who often held Sunday mass at Our Lady Queen of Apostles church, in Heston, died along with 96 dignitaries, including Polish president Lech Kaczynski, when their plane crashed in Russia on Saturday.

Renata Kubajewska, 33, from Hounslow, whose daughter often received communion from Fr Bronek, said: “My daughter was so sad because he was her favourite priest.

“We have lost someone special, a member of the family.”

Hounslow Council flew its flag at half mast on Monday as a mark of respect for Poles living in the borough.

A swathe of flowers and eulogies have been left outside the Church of St Andrew Bobola, in Shepherd’s Bush, where 62-year-old Fr Bronek was parish priest. More than 200 tributes have been left on an online condolence page.

Parish chairman, Artur Lozinski, told the Hounslow and Brentford Times: “It’s a total shock to the Polish community in London and across England and Wales.

“He was held in great regard - he was a person who was a friend to everybody.”

Ms Kubajewska said Fr Bronek, who was renowned for his work with young people and his community activism, recently drew crowds of people from different countries for a religious concert he was putting on.

He was a familiar face at the Heston Road church, where Hounslow’s Polish community gathers each week for Sunday mass.

A statement from the church said: “All the losses bring sadness and we are especially saddened to lose our beloved friend Bronislaw Gostomski, the spiritual leader of many Polish residents in England, including here in Heston.

“On Sunday at our Polish Mass we prayed for the repose of his soul and for all the victims at this time of great loss and sorrow, and we continue to do so.”

Ms Kubajewska, who saw Fr Bronek a week before his death, said he was in high spirits when he addressed the congregation because he was excited about meeting Mr Kaczynski.

Fr Bronek was due to take part in a mass to mark the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre by the Soviet Union when the plane he was travelling in came down in thick fog as it approached Smolensk airport, in western Russia.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was today expected to sign a book of condolence at St Andrew Bobola, which holds the main shrine in Britain commemorating the 23,00 Polish officers killed in 1940.

A special service was held at St Bobola Church yesterday with representatives from Our Lady Queen of Apostles. Fr Marek Reczek’s mass in Heston is expected to go ahead as usual on Sunday.