A mother-of-six who lost her life in a four-vehicle crash on the A590 at Witherslack yesterday has been named.

Charlotte Preston, 48, from Greenside Court in Hincaster, Milnthorpe was driving a black Fiat Punto when, just after 11am, it was involved in a collision with three other vehicles.

The other vehicles involved were a silver Vauxhall Corsa driven by a 24-year-old woman from Barrow, a silver Audi A6 driven by a 38-year-old man from Cheshire and a blue Fiat Doblo driven by a 56-year-old man from Cockermouth.

The driver of the Corsa was taken to hospital in Kendal and was released later that day.

Ms Preston, known as Charlie to her family and friends, ran a burger van from a lay-by on the A590.

Originally from Kirkby Lonsdale, she had lived in Hincaster for three years.

A statement from Ms Preston’s family said: “Charlie was a fun loving, one-in-a-million person and mother of six children.

"Well known and liked for her individual personality, she will be missed by all her family and friends.”

Her next door neighbour, Neil Harry said: “It’s a hell of a shock.

"She was a happy and jolly person. She did not have a bad word to say about anybody.”

In June 2008 Ms Preston was featured in The Westmorland Gazette after she said she had been ‘abandoned’ for five hours near Foulshaw when her breakdown company failed to show up.

She had badly burned her arm checking a tea urn earlier in the day and ended up writing “Please I need help” on the menu board of her catering van trying to flag down help.

An investigation into the cause of yesterday's collision is ongoing by South Cumbria’s Roads Policing Unit.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information is urged to contact Sergeant Jo Walker on 0845 33 00 247.