A YOUNG Leigh woman who died after a crash on the East Lancashire Road has given others the chance of a better life.

Sarah Elizabeth Blake's life support machine was switched off last Friday, the day after her car ploughed into a lamppost.

A funeral service for Mrs Blake, 30, of Linnet Drive, Leigh, will be held at St Helens Crematorium on Monday (April 26) .

Her heart-broken husband, Stephen Armstrong, who works for British Nuclear Fuels said the caring Manchester University employee had told her family that she would want her organs donated in the event of her dying.

He said that on Friday he agreed for her life support machine to be turned off and for the donation to take place. He will learn this week how many people will benefit from his wife's special gift.

"It was what Sarah wanted and therefore that is perfectly all right with me," he said.

The couple have been married for seven-and-a-half years and had no children.

Sarah was on her way home from her work as a technician in the chemistry department at Manchester University, driving along the Liverpool-bound carriageway, when the accident occurred at 6.40pm.

She had been on a life support machine in Salford's Hope Hospital since the accident.

Police have confirmed that weather conditions were particularly bad at the time of the crash but there were no clear indications as to the cause.

They are appealing for any witnesses to contact the Wigan Traffic Unit on 0161 856 7072.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.