Tributes have been paid to Bulkington pensioner Doreen Bath, who died in a road accident during a holiday in Weymouth.

Mrs Bath, 78, was on her mobility scooter when she was struck by a car while she and her husband, Charles, were crossing a road on Friday.

The couple had been staying in their caravan at the Weymouth Bay Holiday Park and had been due to return home two days later, on Sunday.

She and her husband had been married for 49 years and he said: “We had been in Weymouth for five weeks at our caravan and all I can say is that we had a good holiday and she didn’t suffer in the accident.”

The accident happened in Preston Road at 4.45pm and involved a Vauxhall Corsa driven by an 18-year-old man from Dorchester, in Dorset.

Mr Bath, 81, and an engineer, had known his wife since childhood when they both grew up in Bulkington.

He said: “I have been married to her for 49 years and I courted her for ten years before that.

“She was a live wire in one sense. If she met somebody she liked she would talk her head off.”

She and her husband have two sons, Francis and Robin, and daughter Catherine.

The couple were members of Bulkington and Keevil Silver Threads Group, which has now disbanded.

Mrs Bath, who had arthritis, enjoyed cooking her own food such as bread, lardy cakes and puddings.

Resident Nev Boulton, who opens his miniature steam railway in his garden for fund-raising events, said Mrs Bath helped provide the food.

He said: “We have had village fetes and all sorts of events here and Doreen would appear bringing a box of mince pies, sausage rolls or cakes. She was a wonderful cook and the village has lost a stalwart.

“You could always depend on Doreen to help you if there was a charity event being held.”

His wife, Thelma, said: “We shall miss Doreen. She was always there for a chat and knew everything in the village. She was a very nice woman. She was outspoken and straight to the point.”

Marina Webb, a neighbour and friend of Mrs Bath, said: “I’m absolutely devastated that she has died, it’s very sad. I shall miss her. She was a character and a legend in the village, she always had a tale to tell.

“She was so devoted to her husband, they were always together. They always went for a Sunday afternoon walk hand in hand.”

The funeral has yet to be arranged.