A MAGISTRATE has been killed in a car crash.

Hospital worker Kathleen Cornforth, 52, of Hartlepool, was driving across the A177, at Thorpe Thewles, near Stockton, when her Vauxhall Corsa was involved in a collision with a Seat Ibiza just before 11.30am, on Thursday.

Three teams of firefighters and three ambulance crews battled to free Mrs Cornforth from the wreckage, along with a family-of-five in the Seat Ibiza.

Mrs Cornforth, of Woburn Grove, Hartlepool, died soon after arrival at North Tees General Hospital.

Tributes were yesterday paid to the mother-of-two.

A spokeswoman for Hartlepool General Hospital, where she had worked for 28 years, said: "Kath's many friends and colleagues here are in a state of shock at the terrible news of her death. She has been a very valuable employee and has touched the lives of many people over her years with us.

"She will be a very big loss to us all and our thoughts are with her family at this deeply upsetting time."

Dr John Phillipson, chairman of Hartlepool Magistrates' Bench, on which Mrs Cornforth served for 19 years, said: "All the justices are saddened to hear of her death. Her death is a big loss to the bench and the community of Hartlepool.

"We send our deepest sympathy to Kath's husband, Ray, and her family."

Mrs Cornforth spent her spare time fundraising for Hartlepool General Hospital, where she was manager of the post-graduate centre.

The other casualties in the accident, a woman and three children, were released from hospital after being treated for minor injuries, and the male driver of the Seat sustained a broken leg. None of the injured people have yet been named.

Police accident investigators are appealing for witnesses to the crash.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact officers on (01642) 301558.