ROSSENDALE television wardrobe supervisor Sarah Pope was killed in a road accident on the M5 while returning from filming the Hollyoaks series.

Mrs Pope, 51, wife of former Granada TV announcer Jim Pope, died when the mini-bus returning the Mersey TV crew to Liverpool, collided with three other vehicles as it approached junction 22 at Weston-super-Mare.

Avon and Somerset police say the Ford mini-bus rolled and mother-of-three, Mrs Pope, was certified dead at the scene.

The driver of one of the other vehicles, a 78-year-old Nottingham man, also died in the accident which occurred at 11.30am on Saturday.

Mrs Pope of Church Street, Newchurch, had been on a week's location in Newquay, Cornwall. She had worked as a freelance on many TV films, including Brookside and Coronation Street and was also well known in the Valley as a dressmaker.

Some years ago she ran a wool shop in Newchurch.

Today her children, Matthew, 26, Rebecca, 25, and Daniel, 23, had joined Mr Pope - senior Granada announcer for 20 years until his retirement - at the family home.

Born in St Hellier, Jersey, Mrs Pope grew up in South Wales and came to Rossendale with her husband in 1973.

Mr Pope said: "It is a terrible tragedy, but our family is coming together."

A post mortem examination was being held in Weston today and the inquest into the accident will be conducted by the Taunton coroner.

Mr Pope said the funeral will take place in South Wales.

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