THE FAMILY of a young mother who was killed in a car crash today revealed that she was in labour and on her way to hospital to give birth when she died.

Jeanette McKenna, 33, and her unborn baby girl were heading for Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn, when she lost control of her Peugeot 205 GTI and collided with a bollard and lamp post in Shadsworth Road at 7.30am on New Year's Eve.

Her twin brother Paul McKenna, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, said: "She was in labour when she crashed -- we are certain of that. She was going to the hospital and must have had a contraction and lost concentration. That is the tragedy.

"Jeanette was brave and not afraid of anything so would have just jumped in the car and set off without telling anyone. She was so excited about having the baby that she just didn't think about it.

"It is hard to say how this will hit home when it does. Part of us is no longer there, as if we have lost the link in the chain."

Jeanette's baby -- who would have been named Siobhan -- was originally due on January 10 the same day her son Joshua will have his fifth birthday.

But there were complications with the pregnancy and she had made a number of trips to the hospital.

The family said that on her last visit she was told the baby would be born on New Year's Day.

Her eldest sister, Marion Broughton, said: "The fact of the accident is that she was in labour and having severe pains. She was an excellent driver but wouldn't even have bothered to call the hospital before going. She was heavily pregnant and was having contractions."

Jeanette was pronounced dead at the scene and taken to hospital where doctors lost a battle to save her unborn baby.

Just two days earlier Jeanette, of The Copse, Accrington, had discussed baby names with her family and settled on Siobhan, meaning 'gift of God', because she liked the sound of it and also because it complemented Joshua's name which means 'God's salvation'.

Marion, of Sandy Lane, Accrington, said: "Jeanette was an excellent mother and her and Joshua were very excited about the new baby.

"Joshua was her absolute joy in life and she thought the world of him. He knows now that his mum has gone to heaven to be with his grandmother and that his sister is there too."

The family said the youngster will now live with his father William Laughland, 34, who he was with at the time of the accident, and grandmother Jan in their home in Bellfield Road.

Jeanette's family said they will most remember her mad sense of humour as she was 'an absolute scream' and would have people crying with laughter.

The day before she died she was laughing with her family after a snowball fight despite exhaustion from her pregnancy.

She was the joint youngest of 10 siblings who were all brought up in Hyndburn but frequently visit their home county of Donegal, Ireland, where their parents William and the late Bridie grew up.

Her twin brother said: "We had an ultra close bond and did everything together when we were younger. Just last week she told me never to leave her and I laughed at her.

"She was very confident with her emotions and affectionate -- always hugging people -- and she said the nicest things. Most importantly she was always herself -- what you saw was what you got."

Her fun personality ensured she was never short of new friends but she also kept in touch with her old pals from St Anne's RC Primary School, Sandy Lane, Mount Carmel RC High School and Blackburn College where she enrolled on a hairdressing course.

After leaving education she worked in Burtons, in the Accrington Arndale Centre, where she enjoyed meeting new people but after Joshua's birth she was more than happy to be a full time mother.

Her interests included horse riding, swimming and generally keeping fit and her appearance won her several accolades including Blackburn Carnival Queen 1990.

William McKenna, Jeanette's father, 78, of Birtwistle Street, Accrington, said: "This has hit us all very badly. She was my baby and I could never refuse her anything."

A funeral is expected to take place during the week beginning Monday, January 14.