STUNNED villagers today paid tribute to the woman they knew as "the perfect neighbour" after she was killed in a car crash near York.

The sudden death of Nora Hill, 59, who lived with her close-knit family in Rufforth for 22 years has sent a shock wave through the whole community, said villagers.

Mrs Hill, a former British Sugar worker, was killed in a two-car crash on the B1224 Wetherby Road near the York ring road on Monday morning.

Her husband, Peter, a former council employee who was critically injured in the crash, was today stable in hospital, and their daughter, Christine, of York, is also recovering in York District Hospital.

City of York Councillor Janet Hopton, who was also injured in the crash, was "comfortable" in hospital today. Her husband David, a surgeon, sustained minor injuries.

Neighbours told how the Hills' son, Stephen, 39, broke the tragic news to them personally.

Neighbour Pat Hogarth, who has lived in the Hills' street for 50 years, told how injured Christine was wheeled to her father's bedside today so they could comfort each other over Mrs Hill's death.

She also spoke of what a close-knit family they were.

She said: "They were just ordinary everyday caring people. There was the four of them and their garden and they were just content. They lived and loved as a unit and did everything together."

Mrs Hogarth and neighbour Nancy Ingilby remembered fondly how Mrs Hill, who was due to turn 60 in October, had jokingly waved around her pensioner's bus pass application when she returned from the council with it.

Mrs Ingilby said: "She was always the first person to come round if she thought anything was wrong and nothing was too much trouble for her."

Both agreed Mrs Hill was "the perfect neighbour".

They said the Hills' son Stephen was being comforted by relatives from Plymouth.

Mrs Hogarth said: "Stephen is being very strong and very brave at the moment.

"It must have taken an awful lot of courage for him to come and tell us."

They also told how Mrs Hill was looking forward excitedly to her 60th birthday as she and her husband were due to go on holiday to Spain with relatives as a treat.

The couple have just celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary this year.

The death has struck an even harder blow in the village as it is the fifth tragedy in roughly the last six weeks.

Just last week a neighbour was found dead at home.

A man in his 30s, from the village, has also been found dead in tragic circumstances and recently another man from Rufforth was killed in a motorcycle accident in Glasgow.

Just when villagers felt that they had had their fair share of grief, masked raiders held up the village post office yesterday.

Mrs Ingilby said: "Everybody in the village is just stunned at Nora's death, especially with it coming after all the other deaths."

PICTURE: Flashback: the scene of Monday's crash