A mother-of-three who was killed in a crash on the A47 has been described as a 'beautiful woman, wonderful mother and loving daughter' by her husband who survived the accident.

Catherine Piercy – known to her friends as Kate – was driving a red Citroen Berlingo which hit a tree after going off the dual carriageway on the A47 at Dereham at about noon on Sunday, January 30.

The 36-year-old died as a result of her injuries while her husband James Piercy, a front-seat passenger, suffered serious head injuries and multiple fractures. Her three children were also in the car.

Mr Piercy spent about six weeks fighting for his life at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge before moving to the Colman Hospital.

He has written a moving tribute to his wife which was issued following an inquest into his wife's death held at the Assembly House in Norwich yesterday.

Mr Piercy, who did not attend, said: 'My wife was a beautiful woman, wonderful mother, loving daughter and an inspiration and help to many. Her loss leaves a massive void in many lives and she will be greatly missed.'

The inquest heard that Mrs Piercy died as a result of multiple injuries following the accident which might have resulted from 'several possible contributory factors'.

Richard Gibbard, who had been travelling behind Mrs Piercy said her car started to 'move from side to side' like 'a F1 car trying to warm up its tyres'. He said: 'I could see someone turning the steering wheel. It started to rock from side to side and all of a sudden it spun around in front of me.'

Mr Gibbard said the car then slithered off the road and into the tree. He stopped, called the emergency services and tried to help at the scene as did motorist Jennifer Huish who also witnessed Mrs Piercy's car 'slip off into the tree'.

The inquest heard from the police report compiled by PC Nicholas Kett which stated the weather had been fine, the road surface was good and Mrs Piercy, who had only just passed her driving test, had been travelling between 50 and 57mph before the crash.

But the rear nearside tyre of the car, which was not overweight but loaded with wooden flooring as well as four passengers, was found to have lost air from a nail which was found embedded in the tread.

The report stated Mrs Piercy could have been trying to regain control of the car as a result of the loss of air in the rear wheel or that her lack of experience, combined with the additional weight in the car may have contributed to her being unable to regain control.

Deputy Norfolk coroner Jacqueline Lake recorded a verdict that she died as a result of a road traffic collision.