Charges against a woman accused of cruelty against children in her care have been halted after she died in a road accident on the way to court.

Janet Blythe was on her way to Exeter Crown Court when she was hit by a vehicle while walking along the hard shoulder of the M5 in Gloucestershire last month.

The 36-year-old, who previously lived in The Square, Uffculme, had been due to face five charges of cruelty to children.

Now the charges against her will lie on file after evidence detailing the identification of her body was received by the court from the coroner.

An inquest into Mrs Blythe's death will be held later this year.

This story first appeared in the Express and Echo, Exeter