Tragic mother loses third child

A mother was grieving for the loss of a third child on Monday after her teenager daughter was killed in a road crash.

Eileen Vincke, of Melling, Merseyside, was recovering in hospital after the crash, in which her daughter Nicola Jackson died, on Friday.

The pair were on a shopping trip to buy presents for Nicola's 20th birthday - which would have been on Tuesday - when they were involved in a collision in Aughton, Lancashire.

It is the third time Mrs Vincke has lost a child in particularly tragic circumstances.

Her first son, George, died from meningitis when he was aged two-and-a-half.

Nicola was such a bright, bubbly girl. A typical teenager - very genuine, very close to her mum

Peter Miller, Mrs Vincke's partner

Then, in 1977, Mrs Vincke was pushing her six-month-old daughter Julie in a pushchair when they were hit by a car which mounted the pavement.

Julie died and Mrs Vincke suffered serious injuries.

The 47-year-old now has only one remaining child - her son Colin, 23.

Her partner, Peter Miller, said on Monday: "Nicola was such a bright, bubbly girl. A typical teenager - very genuine, very close to her mum."

He added that the 19-year-old, who worked at the tax office in Litherland, Merseyside, was due to be a bridesmaid when he and Mrs Vincke married in 2004.

He said: "It's not sunk in yet. Eileen is still in hospital. She suffered a broken collar bone and broken ribs.

"A doctor had to break the news to her once she stabilised."