TRIBUTES have been paid to a Colwall woman following her death in a car crash in Oxfordshire.

Rhea Dermott-Walter, known as Ray, died at the scene of the crash at the Milton Interchange on Saturday. The 77-year-old's Honda Civic was in collision with a Citroen Berlingo van that was travelling south on the A34 at about 12.20am.

Mrs Dermott-Walter was born in Malvern but moved to London as a child. She gained a degree in psychology and moved back to Malvern when she married Norman, a major in the army.

She worked as a psychologist in Bilston until she retired. Her husband died about 18 months ago.

A regular member of Ledbury Bridge Club, Mrs Dermott-Walter often spent her Fridays playing at the Feathers Hotel. She and Douglas Nichol, her bridge partner, won the club award for the highest score of the season at the last meeting on April 30.

Mr Nichol said he met Mrs Dermott-Walter four years ago when both were looking for a bridge partner.

"I liked talking to her, she was quite outgoing," he said. "She wasn't a bad bridge player, even though she didn't pay attention all the time because she like talking!"

Mr Nichol said he was very sad to learn of her death.

She was also a member of Malvern Writers' Circle.

Mary Geffen, a neighbour in West Malvern Road, said Mrs Dermott-Walter had been a very independent woman.

"She was eccentric and highly intelligent, very well educated and very determined. She was not your average Malvern housewife! She was very lively," she said.

Mrs Dermott-Walter hit the headlines in 1988 when she sat in a foxhole to prevent a hunt killing the animal inside. She was nominated for an award by the League Against Cruel Sports following the incident on land near her home.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information about Mrs Dermott-Walter, who was not carrying any next of kin information when she died. Investigations have so far failed to turn up any relatives.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Jim Boath on 08458 505505.