A recently married elderly couple were tragically separated after one of them was killed in a car crash.

Josephine Cairns, 80, died following a collision on the motorway near Kings Langley on March 27.

She had been travelling with her husband of ten months, Malcolm.

The M25 was shut for around seven hours while police investigated the crash – which involved vehicles including three cars and a lorry.

Mrs Cairns, who lived in Chippenham, Wiltshire, was travelling in a Citroen C3 with Malcolm. They were both taken to hospital but Mrs Cairns later died.

Mr Cairns remains in hospital but Hertfordshire Constabulary says he is recovering well.

Borehamwood Times:

The couple had only met in June 2017 on a trip to Iceland, and exactly a year later, they married in Scotland. They spent much of their short time together travelling the world.

In a tribute, Mrs Cairns family have described the grandmother as “the most caring and selfless person”.

They said: “Mum was a guiding light to all of her family. A true English Rose, full of fun, sharp as a tack and with the most beautiful of smiles. She was the most caring and selfless person who doted on her children and grandchildren.

“She was an incredible poet, keen traveller, amateur artist, skilled embroiderer and a voracious reader. Mum’s sole purpose throughout her life was to protect her children and envelop them in boundless love. The epitome of the word ‘Mum’, she leaves a massive void in all our lives.”

Mrs Cairns, who was originally from Derbyshire, leaves behind her husband, three sons, a daughter, and four grandchildren.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the crash. Any witnesses or anyone with information or dash cam footage should call 101 quoting ISR 290 of March 27.