A REGIONAL crime fighter has died following a road smash on the North Yorkshire Moors.

Mother of two, Joyce Gawthorpe, 53, was admitted to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, where she later died, following Saturday's two car crash on a road junction near the Scaling Dam reservoir.

Mrs Gawthorpe was the regional campaigns co-ordinator for Crimestoppers.

She was front seat passenger in a Ford Ka driven by her next door neighbour, Clifford Ord, who escaped with minor injuries as did the couple in a green Rover Metro - the other car involved - which overturned.

The silver Ford Ka came to rest in a field.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash which happened on the A171 Guisborough to Whitby road junction with Roxby village.

It is understood Mrs Gawthorpe and Mr Ord were turning right into the village on their way home from discussing the siting of a memorial bench to Mr Ord's late wife, when tragedy struck, just after 4pm.

Milkman's wife Mrs Gawthorpe was regional spokeswoman for Crimestoppers. Jane Reay, who was her boss, said: "It is just horrendous and a complete shock. She handled publicity and campaigns. She had started as a volunteer helping with administration in the North-East.

"That was over 11 years ago. She was appointed a member of staff - that is how vital she was. She was so larger than life: nothing was a problem for her. ''

Mrs Gawthorpe, whose husband Ian delivers milk around the Nunthorpe, Marton area, worked part time from a police section office just several hundred yards from her home in tiny cul-de-sac Linden Crescent, where neighbours were in a state of shock, yesterday.

Pensioner Doris Garbutt, whose daughter is married to Mrs Gawthorpe's brother, said: "She was so very nice, everyone is in shock. They had gone to put up a memorial seat to Mr Ord's wife, who died last year, at a place she liked to visit.

"They were going to go for tea and scones somewhere near Roxby when the collision occurred. The impact was on Joyce's side. She was always very nice.''

Witnesses are asked to ring North Yorkshire Police on 01723 509555.