A WOMAN who suffered serious leg injuries in a road accident the day before her 80th birthday has died in hospital.

Mary Latham, of Chapelhouse Road, Nelson, suffered a broken leg and ankle and deep cuts to both legs in the accident outside her home on January 28.

She was getting out of a Peugeot 106 car when a Nissan Cherry collided with it, pushing the Peugeot over the pensioner's legs.

She was taken to Burnley General Hospital where she died on Friday, eight days after the accident.

Her daughter, Winifred Shea, of Kings Causeway, Brierfield, who was also a passenger in the Peugeot suffered slight injuries.

Mrs Shea said her mother was an active woman who enjoyed helping and caring for others.

"We've lost a gem," said Mrs Shea. "The whole family is devastated.

"She was the most wonderful mother in the world. She would do anything for anybody.

"She loved everyone and everyone loved her."

Her death has been reported to East Lancashire coroner David Smith.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out to find the cause of death before an inquest is opened.

Mrs Latham was a nurse at Burnley General Hospital until she had to give up for medical reasons. She went on to work in the office at Smith & Nephew, Brierfield, until she retired.

Her husband Vincent died in 1992.

Mrs Latham leaves her daughter and two sons, Frank and Peter, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at St John Southworth Church at 9.30am on Thursday.

A police investigation into the accident is continuing.

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