A MOTHER-of-two was killed two days before her birthday after her car collided with a van on a notorious countryside road in Bolton.

Tributes have been paid to Karen Blackburn, aged 28, of Woodburn Drive, Smithills, who died from severe head and internal injuries after the incident in Belmont Road.

Her husband Stephen told an inquest in Bolton: "She was the light of my life and the light of her family's life. She loved her children."

Mrs Blackburn, a former travel agent, had pulled out in front of a Vauxhall Movano van at the Scout Road junction on Monday September 24, the inquest was told yesterday. She had been travelling to visit relatives in Sharples.

The van collided with her Fiat Cinquecento and ploughed down a grass embankment but the inquest was told driver Gavin Entwistle could do nothing to avoid the crash. He suffered minor injuries.

Mrs Blackburn was taken unconscious to the Royal Bolton Hospital after fire crews cut her free from the wreckage. She died four days later on September 28 after doctors stopped treatment.

Coroner Simon Nelson called the case "sad and tragic". He recorded a verdict of misadventure.