THE husband of a devoted great-grandmother who died after being hit by a car has paid a moving tribute to his “soulmate”.

Doreen Campbell, who for more than 30 years worked as a cleaner at Durham Police headquarters, died in hospital at the weekend.

The 77-year-old pedestrian suffered a head injury in the accident in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street on Wednesday morning and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in a critical condition, but sadly died at the weekend.

Mrs Campbell leaves behind husband Brian, sons Brian, Steven, Colin and daughters Pauline and Noreen, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs Campbell’s husband Brian said: “I am devastated to have lost Doreen so suddenly. She was my soulmate and life will never be the same without her.

“Doreen was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother and great-grandmother and we will all miss her so dearly.”

Mrs Campbell was described as being devoted to her family. At weekends, she regularly attended her local club and loved bingo, reading and watching Bargain Hunt and her favourite soaps on television.

House-proud Doreen began work as a domestic cleaner at Durham Police headquarters, where she worked for 30 years with lifelong friend and neighbour, Mary McSkelly.

Mrs Campbell retired 17 years ago at the age of 60, having worked in the force control room for much of her working life. She loved her work and was liked and well-respected, being presented with a long service medal in 1993.

After their retirement, Mrs Campbell and Mary McSkelly would go into Sacriston most days and had a regular routine of visiting the local shops on Front Street, where they would chat to the staff, who they knew well.

The friends were following the same routine on Wednesday when the collision occurred at about 11.40am as she crossed Front Street, outside the town’s Tesco store.

Mrs Campbell was hit by a Renault Clio, which police believe was pulling out of a side junction to turn into Front Street while she was crossing.

The driver, a 22-year-old local man, was uninjured, as was his passenger, a 20-year-old local woman.