THE family of a retired teacher's assistant who died in a road traffic collision on Friday said she "danced through her life with a positive attitude".

Jean Partridge, originally from Droitwich Spa, was in a collision on the A685 near Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, on Friday at 4.40pm.

Police, fire and ambulance services attended the scene but, despite their best efforts, the 71-year-old was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

She was travelling from her home town of Whitchurch in Shropshire to spend the weekend with her son, just north of Richmond in North Yorkshire.

Her devastated family and army of friends have described the pensioner as being one of life’s givers - always putting others feelings and needs before her own, even at her own darkest moments.

A statement said: "Jean was affectionately known by her friends as "the pocket rocket" and danced through her life with a positive attitude and the broadest smile.

"Her passion for sport went hand in hand with her pride for the country she lived in, relishing in all the pomp and circumstance that comes with our country’s heritage.

"From the Olympics to tiddlywinks, if there was an England shirt in play she threw her full volume heartfelt support from either the pool/track side or at the television.

"Her true love was her family.

"Jean leaves behind two brothers David and Peter and their families that she adored, her children and her beloved grandchildren, and in her wake an enormous hole in theirs and her friends' lives."