THE TRAGIC death of a Hatherleigh woman in a car accident a week ago has left the community shocked and saddened.

Maxine (Max) Jarvis, 45, who was part of a well known Hatherleigh family, died after her car left the A386 between Bassets Cross and Lamerton Cross and crashed into trees at around 7.30am last Thursday.

Mrs Jarvis had three grown-up children and a younger child at primary school.

Hatherleigh councillor Denis Bater said the thoughts of the community were with Mrs Jarvis' family: 'Everybody feels very very sorry for the family and we are respecting their wishes and keeping away for the time being but our thoughts are with them.

'This is a very popular family who moved here from Norfolk in the 1970s and have a business in the town. The death of Maxine has been a big shock to an awful lot of people across a large area.'

Staff from Highampton Pre-School, where Mrs Jarvis helped out as a volunteer and had been a regular since her son was a baby, said they were shocked and saddened: 'Max loved being with the children at pre-school, reading them stories and helping out with anything that needed to be done,' they said.

'She was always so cheerful and considerate and will be much missed by everyone. Our thoughts are with her children and grandchildren.'

No other vehicle is believed to have been involved in the accident.

The road was closed for eight hours for accident investigators to examine the scene.

Spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police Alan Mobbs said there would be a meticulous inverstigation into the cause: 'As a matter of course we will be looking at the terrain of the road, the weather conditions at the time and the condition of the vehicle involved.'