THE pensioner who died following a head-on collision near Kirkby Stephen on Friday afternoon has been named as Jean Partridge, of Whitchurch in Shropshire.

The 71-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision close to the A685 junction with the A683 Sedbergh road.

She was driving a Ford Fusion on the A685 in the direction of Kirkby Stephen when her vehicle collided with a silver Nissan Nevada travelling in the opposite direction.

The Nissan driver, a 41-year-old local man, suffered minor injuries.

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A Cumbria Police spokesman said the collision occurred at around 4.45pm.

"The 71-year-old female driver was cut free from her vehicle but unfortunately died at the scene," he said.

Officers are seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed the crash. In particular would like to trace the driver of a silver-coloured vehicle, possibly a Ford Focus, that was travelling in front of the Ford Fusion prior to the collision.

Anyone with information should contact Pc 2128 Barrington, on Cumbria Police's non-emergency number 101.