COLLEAGUES at Mersey Television today paid tribute to Sarah Pope, the Rossendale mother killed when a minibus returning a film crew from location, crashed on the M5.

Mrs Pope, 51, of Newchurch, died instantly in the accident involving four vehicles near to the Weston-super-Mare junction.

The freelance wardrobe supervisor, who had worked on many TV series, including Brookside and Coronation Street, was with a crew which had been filming the series, Hollyoaks, for a week in Newquay.

Today staff at the Liverpool-based TV production company spoke of their sadness over the death of mother-of-three and wife of former senior Granada presenter, Jim Pope.

"The cast are absolutely devastated," said spokesman, Diane Musker.

"You can imagine the atmosphere here is very bad. It is a very sad time."

She added: "Sally was both popular and very professional.

"She worked closely with everyone and she was valued as a friend and highly-respected as a first class professional.

"Our hearts go out to her family at this sad time."

A post mortem examination was held yesterday and the facts surrounding the accident have been reported to the Taunton coroner.

Mrs Pope's funeral will take place in South Wales, where she spent her childhood.

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