A DAUGHTER watched in horror as her mother bled to death yesterday after a freak accident in a care home.

Linda Hayes, 51, was carrying a large knife, balanced on a chopping board, across the kitchen when she slipped. The blade plunged into her neck, severing a main artery.

The tragedy unfolded before the eyes of her daughter, Janet, who was also working in the kitchen.

The accident happened at about 10am at Brockwell Court residential home, in Cobden Street, Consett, County Durham.

Detective Inspector Dave Wolfe, of Consett CID, said: "This appears to have been a tragic accident.

"The dreadful circumstances are all the more poignant because Mrs Hayes' daughter, Janet, was working in the kitchen at the time."

Staff dialled 999 and paramedics took her to the University Hospital of North Durham, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Experts from the Health and Safety Executive, along with detectives, launched an investigation and a file will be submitted to the North Durham coroner.

Mrs Hayes lived in Watling Bungalows, Leadgate, near Consett, with her husband, Jim, and daughters, Janet and Sandra, both in their 20s.

The family declined to talk about the accident.

A spokesman for Four Seasons Health Care, which owns Brockwell Court, said: "Management and staff at the home are deeply shocked, stunned and left in a state of disbelief at this tragic accident, which resulted in the death of a valued and long-serving member of staff.

"Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.

"All of our team is committed to working with all the relevant authorities into any investigation of this tragedy."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "Slips, trips and falls are the most common accidents.

"If you fall and there is a knife nearby, then the consequences are going to be far more severe."