AS a wail of sirens flashed past and the air ambulance helicopter flew overhead, an Evesham mother had no reason to suspect they were rushing to her daughter.

The first inkling Sheila Hawkins, aged 61, had was when she arrived at her daughter Mandi's cottage to see several cars parked outside.

"The house was full of people," Mrs Hawkins recalled. "Someone put their arm around me and told me my daughter had been killed in a car crash.

"I just collapsed. I think my heart died with her that day."

It was every parent's worse nightmare.

Mother-of-four Mandi, who worked as a mobile hairdresser, was in her Land Rover Discovery on the A44 travelling towards Evesham, when she was struck by a van's trailer on Wednesday, February 13 last year.

It was carrying a mini tractor, which became loose and smashed into her vehicle. She died of multiple injuries, and an inquest at Stourport recorded a verdict of accidental death.

But speaking after the first anniversary of her daughter's death, Mrs Hawkins, from Hampton, said the pain was still with her every single day.

"The incident was horrendous, I still cry every day," she said. "Everything I ever did was to do with Mandi, we were extraordinarily close," she said. "I was visiting my mother at Evesham hospital when she died.

"I was waiting outside the hospital and I saw ambulances, police, fire engines racing past and I saw a helicopter overhead.

"I thought it must be something big, perhaps an incident at Long Lartin prison. I later found out they were going to my daughter.

"She was such a beautiful girl, extremely soft hearted, with a sunny disposition. All she ever wanted was to be happy."

Mandi had been a hairdresser since she left Prince Henry's High at 16 and eventually set up a mobile service to be able to work and look after her four children - Luci, aged 14, Jaymi, 12, George, seven and Thomas, two.

A police investigation led to the conviction of two men for using a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition.

The owner was fined and the driver fined and disqualified from driving for four months.

It was a verdict which disgusted Mrs Hawkins.

"It is dreadful when you see that a man who knocked the head off a statue of Margaret Thatcher was jailed for three-months.

"My daughter has gone forever and they escaped a jail sentence.

"I know the accident was unintentional but it just doesn't seem consistent," she said.

Sheila still remains strong for her grandchildren who have all now had birthdays without their mother there to celebrate with them.

Despite suffering from arthritis, 14-year-old Luci, and Jaymi, 12 are both keen horse riders and can regularly be seen on Ted the horse, who belongs to Sheila and her husband John.

Their brothers George and Thomas like to spend time with their grandfather and all currently live with Mandi's partner, Paul Houlton.

Mrs Hawkins is keeping a box of memories for the children, containing some dried petals from the red roses which adorned Mandi's coffin, and the scores of cards sent to the family by well-wishers and friends after her death.

She wants them to remember how loved Mandi was during her lifetime.

"They are coping well since Mandi's death. I like to talk about their mum in a positive way so they can remember her with joy."

Sheila has suffered in two car crashes herself, one just before her daughter's accident, where she was standing at a crossing, hit by a car and thrown 40 feet into the air and into a hedge.

Despite suffering from head and physical injuries and another recent operation, she still actively takes keep fit classes around the Evesham area.

"My friends and close family have kept me strong throughout this," she said.

"I remain positive for the future.

"It is really mind over matter. There is no such word as 'can't'."

* Sheila Hawkins would like to speak to any other mothers who have lost their children. If you would like to be put in touch with her, contact the Evening News on 01905 742244.