The family of a woman who took her own life have told an inquest she was a 'brilliant mum' who loved her children and took pride in her work.

Elizabeth McManus, 45, from Foundry Close, Foulsham, near Dereham, died on October 13, 2017 after falling onto the A47 dual carriageway at Longwater in Costessey, before being fatally hit by a Vauxhall Vivaro van.

The inquest yesterday at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard that Ms McManus was having financial difficulties at the time and often drank to excess.

Statements from Ms McManus' daughter Lauren and mother Valerie Roope were read out which described a loving mother and 'daddy's girl' who took pride in her family and work life.

Her daughter said in her statement: 'My mum was a happy, bubbly and brilliant mum - she was my best friend.'

Her mother said that 'she never let her girls be without anything' and took pride in her job as a pub worker at the Recruiting Sergeant at Horstead and the Buckinghamshire Arms in Blickling.

She said: 'She would often have a group of customers who would only come when she was there. She took pride in introducing us to people she worked with.'

The inquest heard that another driver, Ian White, saw her standing on the outside of the bridge's railings at just after 12.30am, having taken off her shoes, and tried to persuade her to get back from the edge.

Paramedic Nicholas Ball pronounced Ms McManus dead at the scene after she was hit by Sugantham Lambothararajah's van. Mr White tried to alert the driver that he was about to hit Ms McManus, but the dimly lit road meant that Mr Lambothararajah was unable to change direction in time.

At inquest, Norfolk's senior coroner Jacqueline Lake recorded a conclusion of suicide. She added in her summary of the case there was nothing Mr Lambothararajah could have done to avoid the collision.

A report conducted following Ms McManus' death found that although Mr Lambothararajah was travelling marginally faster than the 60mph speed limit assigned to his vehicle, the difference it made to his reaction time was only 0.2 seconds.

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