A WOMAN who ran an antiques shop in Cumbria died after straying onto the M6 in the early hours of the morning.

An inquest at Kendal County Hall heard Highways England traffic officers noticed Tatiana Grieve’s unlit vehicle on the hard shoulder of the southbound carriageway just south of junction 36 at Crooklands shortly after midnight on December 19 last year.

But as they placed warning signs at the scene, they witnessed Mrs Grieve leave her vehicle then an HGV vehicle swerving to avoid her.

She was then found lying in the main carriageway and died in hospital from multiple injuries shortly afterwards.

Recording a narrative verdict, Coroner Kirsty Gomersal said Mrs Grieve, 51, was seen to exit the vehicle and enter the carriageway but it cannot be said on the balance of probabilities that her intention was to take her own life.

The court heard Mrs Grieve originated from Russia and came to the UK on a short term visa in 2007 but married a UK citizen and obtaining UK citizenship herself in 2012.

She lived in the Manchester area but separated from her husband in 2015 and eventually moved to Millom where in 2017 she opened a small antiques business on Lapstone Road and began a relationship with James Adams, who lived close to the shop.

Mr Adams told the court while he was aware she had suffered periods of depression, they had a happy relationship and she was very popular with her customers.

The court heard on the night of her death, there was evidence she was travelling to Manchester Airport in order to visit her daughter and family in Russia, but she may have become disorientated after running our of fuel.

Miss Gomersal said it was clear Mrs Grieve was a loving partner and mother, and expressed her sadness to her partner and family.

She added no blame whatsoever could be attached to the HGV driver or the Highways England officers.