Two people who died after a crash in a Norfolk village have been named as a local couple. 

Peter Darby and wife Kathleen, both aged 69, died after their Renault was involved in a collision with a Range Rover on Sunday, January 14. 

Police were called to Hilborough near Swaffham at 1.22pm following reports of a crash on the B1108 near Bodney Army Camp. 

The road was closed for more than eight hours while emergency services, including the air ambulance, attended the scene.    

The Range Rover driver, a man in his 70s, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with serious injuries 

The Darby’s died at the scene. 

Eastern Daily Press: Police at the scene of the collision, which happened near the entrance to Bodney Camp

An inquest into the couple’s death was opened at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, based at County Hall in Norwich, on Wednesday. 

Area coroner Samantha Goward confirmed that their daughter Denise Darby, identified her parents’ bodies days later at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. 

The court also heard that Mr Darby was a retired carpenter who was due to celebrate his 70th birthday next month on February 10. 

Eastern Daily Press: A bunch of flowers have been left near the scene, with a card addressed to Grandma and Grandad

He had been driving the car when the accident happened and Mrs Darby, a retired tutor, had been the only other passenger. 

The couple, of Woodrising road in Scoulton, near Watton, died from “transection of aorta and spinal cord due to, or as a result of, a road traffic collision.” 

A full inquest into their deaths to determine the official cause of death will take place on August 15 at the Norfolk Coroner’s Court. 

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