A MOTORCYCLIST was critically injured in a crash which killed her husband.

Wendy Arrandale, 49, from Bacup, was involved in a collision between three motorbikes and a car on the M6 in Staffordshire.

Her husband Tony, 62, from Blackpool, died from his injuries.

Staffordshire Police said it was believed the crash was caused by a lorry having a tyre blowout, which left debris on the motorway.

Mrs Arrandale was a pillion passenger on their orange Kawasaki 1000cc when the accident happened just before 9am on Saturday between junction 15 and 14.

She was in a critical but stable condition yesterday, police said.

The couple had been on their way to a rally 1,200 miles away in Faro, Portugal, which they attended every year.

Messages of support have been paid to former Fearns Community Sports College pupil Mrs Arrandale, who was described as a very experienced motorcyclist.

Phil McGladdery, who knows Mrs Arrandale as a member of the Motorcycle Action Group, said: “Tony and Wendy are absolutely genuine people.

“A lot of people are devastated by what happened.

“They are very experienced riders.

“It is tragic and it has affected a lot of people.

“They are very well known in the area, not just within our organisation, but with other bike clubs as well.

“They are the sort of guys you cannot say a bad word about.”

Dave Ogden, who knows Mrs Arrandale from the Coast Riders MCC group, said he hoped she would make a quick and full recovery.

He said: “Wendy is really into motorcycling.

“She is a very, very nice lady who I imagine is in that hospital heartbroken.

“What has happened is horrible, but it is one of the misfortunes of riding a motorcycle.

“We all take that risk every time we get on a bike.”

Tony Cox, regional representative for the Motorcycle Action Group, said: “It is very difficult at this point in time.

“All out thoughts are with Wendy, who was still critical in hospital.

“Wendy and Tony have been members of our group for 10 years or more.

“I am still quite cut up about what has happened and it is taking a bit of getting over.”

Mr Arrandale’s mother Dorothy, 84, said she had been left devastated by her son’s death.

She said: “I have been to see Wendy, but I was in such a mess.

“Her parents have said they do not want any enquires.“ Police said the collision between their bike, a red Aprila 750cc, a blue Kawasaki 500cc and a silver Volkswagen Polo happened when a HGV suffered a tyre blowout, causing tyre debris to become strewn across the carriageway.

The lorry landed on the hard shoulder and investigators believe the incident happened as traffic slowed down.

The four motorcyclists were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, but Mr Arrandale, who had been in the Army for 22 years and received a long service and good contact medal, died from his injuries.

All three lanes of the motorway were closed for almost five hours to allow accident investigation teams to determine the cause of the incident.