TRIBUTES have been paid to a grandmother who died in a car crash near Whitchurch.

Gilian Keable-Elliott, aged 81, from near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, died after the silver Vauxhall Meriva she was travelling in was involved in a collision with two single-decker coaches last Friday. She suffered serious injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Her 86-year-old husband, who was driving, was also taken to hospital where he is now recovering.

In a statement, a close family member said: “All the family are completely devastated at the loss of Gilian, wife, mother and grandmother: she was the rock around which all family life revolved. “Despite her many years as a Justice of the Peace and her many hours spent working with numerous charitable organisations and church matters, her family always came first. “Her husband, Dr Tony Keable-Elliott, although not seriously injured, is recovering in hospital, and soon hopes to be returning to the family home in Ibstone.”

Mrs Keable-Elliott had four sons - David, Ian, Trevor and Simon - and eight grandchildren.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the collision on the southbound carriageway of the A34 at Litchfield around 11.45am.

Anyone with any information should contact acting sergeant Steve Antrobus at the Whitchurch Roads Policing unit, quoting Operation Glassline, on 101 or 0845 045 4545 from outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.