A WIDOW has spoken of how two boy racers ruined her family's life after her husband was killed only a month after celebrating their Ruby Wedding.

Maureen Bury broke her silence as Ashley Black and Stephen Shackleton began jail sentences totalling more than eight years.

The 62-year-old victim's family slammed the pair for waiting 18 months before admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

And they said the case highlighted the importance of the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign, which is calling for tougher laws and more education for young motorists.

Black, 18, and Shackleton, 20, shot through a red light and were reaching speeds of more than 60mph before Black's car hit Mr Bury outside the Black Horse pub, Redearth Road, Darwen.

Mr Bury, of Council Terrace, Darwen, had finished work at Ipec Furniture, Victoria Street, Accrington, and had gone to the pub for a pint in November, 2005.

Mrs Bury, who was in court with her two daughters Diane and Angela and son-in-laws Dave and Tony, said: "That night I went to bed at 9pm. I woke up at 4am and he wasn't home. I knew something must have happened because in our 40 year marriage he had never stayed out but I didn't for one minute think he would be dead."

"It has ruined my life.

"We had so many plans for the future.

"He was going to go on fewer hours at work and I was retiring so we could have more holidays together.

"We were planning on buying a caravan and wanted to spend more time with the grandchildren. "They have taken that away from me and that's why I feel so angry about it.

"If they had pleaded guilty from day one we might have been able to forgive them and had more respect but it has taken them all this time to hold their hands up, which has prolonged this for us, the police and the courts."

"We still can't believe he's gone. He missed his daughter's wedding last year and has a new granddaughter, who will never know her grandad."

The couple had celebrated their Ruby Wedding a month before the accident and had returned from a holiday in Portugal.

Mrs Bury added: "We went to The Pines Hotel in Chorley and then had a family gathering at our house.

"It was a very special day and even more so considering what happened afterwards. It was the last time we were all together."

The court heard how the impact of the crash was so severe that eyewitnesses saw Mr Bury being thrown more than 20ft into the air.

He was hit with such force that his shoe was found in the guttering of a nearby terrace house, Preston Crown Court was told.

Pizza delivery driver Black, now 20, of Lord Street, Darwen, was sentenced to four years and four months while Shackleton, 23, of Ribble Avenue, Darwen, received four years and two months.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, said Citroen Saxo-driver Shackleton was racing through the streets of Darwen with Black, who was in front driving a Vauxhall Corsa.

Judge Anthony Russell, QC, said the pair were racing in a built-up area of the town and added that vehicles could be lethal weapons' if not driven properly.

They did not know each other and the lethal race was sparked by each man's desire to prove their prowess on the road.

Mrs Bury signed the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives petition and said she wanted his death to prevent others from dying on the roads.

The family have installed a memorial bench in Sunnyhurst Wood and two plaques dedicated to his memory at the Victoria and Two Gates pubs in Darwen.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Anthony Russell QC, said: "No sentence in this court can reverse what happened or make adequate recompense for the loss or indeed no words of mine can comfort you.

"In one part they were driving in a pedestrian area where pedestrians have priority in the centre of Darwen. There's evidence of driving through traffic lights on red.

"There's an important message, which is that motor vehicles can be lethal weapons if not driven properly.

"It's incumbent on all to drive with care. Without the dangerous driving, death or serious injury may not have arisen."

After the case, Black's girlfriend, Alys Nokes, 26, fought back the tears and said she hoped the sentence would bring some sort of closure' for his family.

She added: "Ashley is truly sorry for what happened.

"It was a case of him being a typical 18-year-old who suffered from inexperience.

"He hasn't been out since it happened and it's something he will have to live with for the rest of his life."