A SCHOOL has completed the charity work of a teacher, who died in a weekend car smash.

Staindrop Comprehensive School teacher Jennifer Askew led fundraising events in aid of the Butterwick Hospice.

Yesterday, the school presented a cheque for £750 to hospice fundraiser Sylvia Stoneham, in honour of Mrs Askew's support of the charity.

The 54-year-old, from Witton-le-Wear, died in Darlington Memorial Hospital on Saturday after being involved in a head-on collision near her home on Friday.

For the past six years pupils in year eight, of which Mrs Askew was head, have gathered donations and held sponsored events to support the hospice. This year their efforts were boosted by pupil Marie Bussey, who raised almost £150 by holding a sponsored fast.

On Monday, the school held an assembly for Mrs Askew, her husband Jeremy, daughter Sarah, 20, and son Jonathan, 16.

Headteacher Brian Kinnair said that being able to make presentations to the hospice gave the school a chance to remember the positive contribution Mrs Askew had made to the school and other organisations.

Mrs Stoneham said: "We are grateful to the school and will always remember Mrs Askew's support of the charity."

Pupils Billy-Jean Nimmo, Gemma Barlow and Ashlee Wilkinson, led fundraising efforts this year by asking classmates to throw change into collection buckets.

An inquest into Mrs Askew's death will be opened at Darlington Magistrates' Court today.