A WOMAN whose mother died in a car crash threw off her coat and stood naked in front of 1,000 worshippers in Coventry Cathedral yesterday, interrupting a service marking the centenary of Britain's car industry.
Her body daubed with slogans, she told the congregation: "In the spirit of Lady Godiva, I'm here to mourn the death of my mother and the 17 million people killed directly by the motor car."
She urged the congregation "to remember the mothers left childless, the orphaned children, our brothers, sisters, fathers and friends. Those paralysed and maimed."
The woman, in her 30s, railed for about four minutes before being led outside. A male protester was led away after shouting slogans.
According to legend, Lady Godiva was the wife of an 11th century earl who rode naked through Coventry in broad daylight. Her husband said he would cut taxes if she did.
During the service two cars, an 1897 Daimter and an electric prototype, were driven to the altar. Daimler set up the first car company in Britain in 1896 near the cathedral site.
After the service, the Bishop of Coventry said: "I felt that it was inevitable that there would be people doing something like this. It is a pity. I am only sorry that they couldn't have done it with a little more dignity and restraint."