THE grief-stricken parents of a Bewdley 25-year-old who died on holiday in France have said her death has broken her fianc's heart.

Nicola Fantom died after the Citroen her 27-year-old fianc, Richard Green, was driving was in collision with a Range Rover in the town of Nevers on the first day of a week-long fishing holiday.

Her distraught parents, Mary and Albert Fantom, said the accident, which happened at around 11.10pm on June 26, had devastated their close-knit family, especially self-employed electrician Mr Green, of Kidderminster.

"Richard is absolutely broken-hearted," said Mrs Fantom.

"He had a broken bone in his back, his toes were broken and he's got broken ribs and the seatbelt bruised all the side of his body - but I think the damage is in his heart more than anything."

She added: "He talked about it the night before yesterday and just said they were together.

"He said he couldn't walk but somehow he managed to get the strength to get her out of the car and she complained about her leg. He said they had a little chat and then she drifted off to sleep.

The police said she drifted into a coma and, when they got to the hospital, the doctor said her injuries were too bad and they couldn't do anything."

Mr and Mrs Fantom flew to France with their other daughter, Lisa, and Richard's sister, Sarah, and parents, Ken and Chris, after learning of the tragedy. They flew back with their daughter's body on Friday.

Mrs Fantom, aged 57, said her daughter loved horses and her family planned to mark this with a horse-drawn carriage at her funeral.

"Nic and Richard were going to start looking for a house this year and had always wanted to marry abroad," she said, adding the former Bewdley High School pupil had been planning to start a family when she turned 30.

"They were a very private couple actually but were so loving and caring.

"I think Richard's just in shock. They brought him over here for an hour but he just couldn't stop crying."

Mr Green's mother, Chris, said he was too traumatised to speak to the press.

"All I can say is that Nicola was a lovely girl and we loved her like a daughter. It's left a hole in all our lives," she said.

The inquest into Miss Fantom's death was opened and adjourned at Stourport coroner's court on Monday.