ICE hockey teams and spectators observed a minute of silence in tribute to a player's mother who worked in Leigh who died on a Blackrod bypass.

Respects were paid to Eileen Ruxton at Blackburn Ice Arena, where the Blackburn Hawks adult team played a match against a selection of North-west under-19s, also playing as the Blackburn Hawks.

Mrs Ruxton, aged 51, of Alderbank, Horwich, a learning mentor at Leigh CE Junior School, was killed on Monday, October 10, as she travelled west along the A6 towards Adlington.

Her Renault Megane left the carriageway and hit a lamp-post, 400 metres east of the junction with Station Road. The car then overturned and crashed into a tree.

The challenge match was organised by her son Greg, aged 17, who plays in goal for the Hawks' under-19s team and family friend Graham Lomax, who is assistant coach with the Hawks.

Mr Lomax, aged 40, from Blackburn, said: "I've known the Ruxton family for a long time. Eileen was a lovely lady, very approachable and well liked.

"She used to come down here regularly to support the team and travelled all over the country with us for away games.

"The under-19s team all wore a strip with Ruxton on the back in memory of Eileen. It was a good game and played in good spirit.

"We held a minute's silence and did a bucket collection to raise cash for Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley. The referees also donated their fees."

Ged Ruxton, aged 53, Eileen's husband, said: "I was touched by how much trouble people had gone to and I'm delighted that the event raised money for such a good cause.

"Friends and family came along who had never ever been to an ice hockey match before.

"There were hundreds of people there and I think it shows how much people thought of Eileen."

The final score was 11-4 for the senior team, and the event raised more than £350 for the charity.

The junior team included one female player, Lauren Halliwell, aged 16, from Darwen, who had been given special clearance from the English Ice Hockey Association to play against a senior team.