A devastated mother told yesterday how she came across the road accident that claimed the lives of her ten-year-old son and teenage daughter.

Karen Armstrong became concerned when eldest daughter, Lindsay, 26, called to say her sister, Jenna, 19, and brother Lee, ten, had failed to turn up for a pre-arranged visit on Saturday night.

Mrs Armstrong set off from her home to try to find the pair, but came across a police road block.

The 47-year-old retired nurse, now studying holistic medicine at New College, Durham, said: "Jenna and Lee had planned to see their sister Lindsay and her daughter Bryoni, but Lindsay phoned to say they hadn't turned up.

"I drove along the route they had taken and came across the road block for the accident. I explained who I was to a police officer and he said two youngsters had been killed."

The brother and sister died in a three-car pile-up when Jenna's car collided with a black Honda Civic on the A693, near Chester-le-Street.

Her blue Citroen Saxo rebounded into an oncoming green Nissan Micra being driven by an elderly couple.

The brother and sister were on their way to visit 26-year-old Lindsay, in Consett, County Durham, and their five-year-old niece, Bryoni, whom their mother said they doted on.

Paying tribute to his daughter, Ray Armstrong, 52, a retired policeman, said: "Jenna was a wonderful girl. She was lovely and she lived life to the full."