A loving tribute has been paid to a Staffordshire couple who died in a collision with a lorry on the A5. Tony Malpass, aged 29, and his 35-year-old girlfriend Joanne Beardsmore, of Burntwood, died in the smash on June 17.

Their Kia Rio car collided with the HGV near The Terrace restaurant on the Staffordshire-Brownhills border. In a family statement issued via the police by Joanne’s family, they spoke of their “heartbreak” at losing a mother-of-two who “loved life and was always helping others”.

The tribute to Walsall-born Joanne, who grew up and still lived in Chasetown, was paid by her children, parents, brother and sister.

It describes the blue-eyed blonde as a “beautiful, stunning, amazing woman” who was nicknamed Diggle by her brother and sister as children, a name which stuck throughout her life.

A Czech lorry driver accused of killing the couple by dangerous driving has been remanded in custody by a Stafford Crown Court judge. Pavel Dolejs, aged 43, will appear on August 30.

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