Heartbreak as family pay tribute to 'beautiful soul'

THE family of a woman killed on the A19 at Holystone last Friday have paid tribute to a “beautiful soul” who they will miss “beyond words”.

- SAM VOLPE

Claire Laybourne died on Saturday, hours after being involved in a collision on the A19 at Holystone.

Northumbria Police officers are treating the incident as a suspected hit and run.

The police were first alerted to reports of a two-vehicle collision thought to have taken place at 10.40pm on December 5.

Two cars - a Volkswagen T-roc and a Skoda Fabia - were reported to have been travelling on the Northbound carriageway when a collision took place.

The police said the driver of the Skoda did not stop at the scene and they are believed to have fled on foot.

Emergency services attended and the driver of the Volkswagen, Ms Laybourne who is from Heb-burn, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Despite the efforts of medical staff, she died the next day.