A March woman, who raised thousands of pounds as a Pearly Queen, has died in a collision after visiting her husband in a care home in Whittlesey.

Joyce Carr, 77, MBE, was a front seat passenger, being driven by her 84 year old sister in law Peggy Oliver, also a Pearly Queen, when the accident happened near Huntingdon.

Both died at the scene of the crash at King’s Ripton.

Mrs Carr’s daughter Denise was a passenger in the rear of the car and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with serious but stable injuries following the collision.

The original Pearly Kings & Queens Association said: “These two Pearly Queens, who were sister-in-laws, have spent their lives with their families raising funds and promoting various charities in London and around the country.

“This is a very sad time for our association members who all knew and worked with them, so we share their loss and send our condolences to the two families.”

Mrs Oliver of Chigwell in Essex was driving her silver Nissan Micra in Ramsey Road, Kings Ripton, a fortnight ago when it collided with a black Nissan Qashqai.

Both vehicles left the road and ended up in a field leaving five people trapped inside the cars.

The driver and passenger of the Qashqai suffered minor injuries.

Mrs Carr and her husband George were the Pearly King and Queen of Southwark and moved from London to March some years ago.

They raised money for charities by performing at various WIs and local groups.

Until recently Mrs Carr lived at Waterlees Gardens, March, while her husband lived at the care home because he suffered with dementia.

Their March home was in the process of being sold so that Mrs Carr could move away from the Fens to live near her daughter in Essex.

*The Pearly King and Queen tradition began with Henry Croft who was the founder of the charity movement.

Raised in a Victorian workhouse orphanage in London, at the age of 13 he left and became a road sweeper and rat catcher.