A "CARING" woman whose life was looking after children has been killed on a notorious road junction.

Nina Jones, 74, died just before noon last Thursday after her Daewoo Lanos collided with a Toyota MR2 at the Old Worcester Road junction on the A449 at Hartlebury.

Her husband paid a moving tribute to the woman he had been married to for more than 50 years.

Ivor Jones jokingly said how he dreaded daytime trips to the supermarket as his wife would insist on chatting to everybody she knew - and asking after their children.

"She was that kind of caring person. She had a great feeling for children - that was her life."

Mrs Jones, originally from Staffordshire, worked as a paediatric nurse, primary school teacher and social services employee in charge of child welfare in Dudley.

She was "ahead of her time" in highlighting child abuse issues, he added.

Mr Jones, of Talbots Bird Farm, Crossway Green, added: "She came from a privileged background but she regretted that and she always wanted to help the underdog."

On the couple's last major holiday together - a trip to South Africa last year - they spent most of their time touring the black townships.

He also told of how his wife was an active person - both physically and mentally.

"Every day had to be a day of achievement. Each morning before she went out two crosswords were always completed. She was a master of words and had a photographic memory."

The 75-year-old retired banker added: "She was very flamboyant but very private in other ways."

Mrs Jones met many people through playing bridge in Kidderminster and Stourport.

The couple have three children and six grandchildren and Mr Jones said they have helped each other get through the tragedy.

"It's been a great help. We've had a lot of laughter and a lot of crying," he said.

"If it had been an illness we would have been prepared, but she was killed outright. There was no chance to say goodbyes. But we're not going to mourn: it's a celebration of her life."

Mrs Jones' funeral takes place at Worcester crematorium on Monday at 12.30pm.

Work to make the junction safer is due to start in April.

At an inquest opened on Tuesday Worcestershire coroner Victor Round said the cause of death was "shock and haemorrhage due to multiple injuries".

Kidderminster Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to contact them on 01562 820888.