A FAMILY is mourning the death of their mother in a bus crash in South Africa.

Brenda Fleetwood, 57, of Blaydon, Gateshead, was one of ten people who died in the crash near Piet Retief on Wednesday, during a tour of Durban and the Kruger National Park.

Her husband, biochemist Dr Joseph Fleetwood, 58, suffered severe cuts and bruises.

The couple have three daughters. They asked a neighbour to speak on their behalf. He said: "The family are obviously deeply shocked by what has happened.

"They don't want to talk about their mother's death until they find out what their father's wishes are."

He said Dr Fleetwood had had an operation and it was going to be up to eight weeks before the hospital allowed him to return to the UK.

It has emerged that a train derailment had forced the driver to take a 140km detour in atrocious weather.

A tourist, who survived the crash, said the bus fishtailed on a steep incline before leaving the road and rolling over.

The ten tourists killed included five Britons. Nine others were seriously injured.