A couple in their 80s who died in a car crash were active until the end.

Eastern Daily Press: The scene of the crash on the A17 near Boston where a Norfolk couple were killed. Picture LincolnshireLiveThe scene of the crash on the A17 near Boston where a Norfolk couple were killed. Picture LincolnshireLive (Image: LincolnshireLive)

Ian and Doris Milligan, from Old Hunstanton, were on their way to a hotel break in Nottinghamshire when their car was involved in a collision with a lorry on the A17 near Boston, Lincs.

An inquest opening into their deaths heard the couple - aged 87 and 82 - were both pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Tuesday, November 7.

The main A17 was closed for more than nine hours after the collision near the Bicker Bar roundabout, in which the Milligans' light green Volvo caught fire. A passing lorry driver tried to pull them free from the car.

The couple moved to Hunstanton more than 20 years ago, after Mr Milligan retired from the civil service.

Friend and neighbour David Johnson, who lived near the Milligans in Ashdale Park, said: 'They were pretty active.

'Ian had been treasurer of the Probus Club for 15 years or something like that, he was a fairly active gardener.

'Doris was quite a keen amateur watercolourist, she regularly went to classes.

'She was very keen on her watercolouring and she liked going out and going away, as they were on this occasion.

'They were heading for a five-day break at Warners Hotels at Thorseby Hall in Nottinghamshire.'

Retired school bursar Mr Johnson, 79, said Mr Milligan had been a keen swimmer in his younger days, when he took part in civil service galas.

The couple were described in a funeral announcement as beloved mum and dad to Christopher, loving mother-in-law and father-in-law to Wendy and loving nanny and grandad to Katy.

Their funeral will be held at Mintlyn Crematorium, near King's Lynn on Monday, November 27 (2.30pm).

Donations will be taken for Prostate Cancer UK and Save the Children, and can be made at the service or sent to Cooperative Funeralcare, 71 Westgate, Hunstanton, PE36 5EP.

Lincolnshire police are still investigating the collision. Roads policing officers are appealing for anyone who saw the crash to contact them.

Anyone with information should call 101 with incident reference number 171 of November 6.