A FAMILY last night spoke of their grief after a father-of-two died in a head-on road collision.

Ian Robinson, 44, of Lime Grove, Shildon, County Durham, was declared dead at the scene of the accident, on the A68 in Northumberland, just north of the Tone Inn, Ridsdale.

His brother-in-law, Brian Chapman, also from Shildon, said: "He was an honest, hard-working man and a loving husband. He was liked by everyone in Shildon."

Mr Robinson's wife, Kelly, was said to be distraught by his death. He also had two sons from a previous marriage.

"He lived for Kelly and his bairns," said Mr Chapman. "The kids are absolutely devastated. Kelly is lost without him."

Mr Robinson died on his way home from work in Scotland, where he operated heavy machinery at an opencast mining site.

He had worked there for ten months, after being made redundant from his supervisor's role at Vertex Panel Products - formerly George Reynolds UK - when the chipboard factory closed in October last year, with the loss of 120 jobs.

He made the 280-mile round-trip every weekend to return home to see his wife and children.

"Kelly and Ian had been to Turkey three weeks ago," said Mr Chapman.

"The photos had just come back on Thursday and he was really excited about seeing them."

The accident happened at about 2.10pm on Saturday.

Mr Robinson's grey Volkswagen Golf, heading south, collided with an Audi A4 convertible travelling in the opposite direction.

The Audi driver, a 38-year-old man from South Shields, South Tyneside, suffered spinal, shoulder and arm injuries and is being treated in Hexham General Hospital.

The road was closed for four hours while investigators examined the scene.

Witnesses to the accident are asked to contact police on 0191-214 6555, extension 61474.