AN elderly woman has today admitted killing one of her best friends in a car crash.

Jean Barnett, 79, could be jailed after pleading guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of Linda Pyers, 70, on January 26.

Barnett, of Sunnyside, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on October 18 once a medical report has been prepared, and a background report has been written by the Probation Service.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, granted bail to the pensioner until then.

The accident - described by prosecutor Jolyon Perks as "clearly a tragedy" - happened on the A174 Parkway, Middlesbrough, close to the turn-off for Coulby Newham.

Mrs Pyers’ family previously paid tribute to the “much loved” mother and grandmother and said she will be “deeply missed”.

She was a passenger in a silver Toyota Avensis when it was involved in a collision at around 6.45pm.

The accident happened on the eastbound side of the dual carriageway off the sliproad at Low Lane, near Coulby Newham.

Mrs Pyers was taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough by ambulance and died shortly after arrival.

Another passenger, a 79-year-old woman who was travelling in the same car, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Defence barrister Andrew Nuttall said Barnett has a serious heart condition and is expecting to have open-heart surgery soon.

Judge Bourne-Arton told the grey-haired defendant: "You have had the good sense to plead guilty to this indictment, having received good advice from your lawyers.

"I am going to ask for you to be seen by the probation officer. I know Mr Nuttall will have advised you on a possible sentence in this matter. I'm not going to spell it out to you."