A 49-YEAR-old man was due to appear at court today charged with the manslaughter of a Burnley mother-of-two who died as she walked on a beach with her two sons.

Teaching assistant Carole Cruz, 38, was cut in half when she was hit by a sand-yacht that was competing in a championship race on the beach at St Annes-on-Sea in August 2002.

Mrs Cruz, from Burnley, was on a day out with her sons when she was hit by the sail-powered yacht on wheels piloted by the 49-year-old from Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

He was expected to appear before magistrates in Blackpool for the first time this morning.