A mum-of-two is fighting for her life after a crash in Workington, which killed her friend.

Police have identified the woman who died as Audrey Tunstall, 79, of Cape Road, Seaton.

She was with her friend Natalli Fisher when the pair were struck by a Volkswagen Passat car as they crossed the busy A596, near to the Dunmail Park shopping centre.

Mrs Tunstall was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle following Saturday night's crash, where she died.

Mrs Fisher, 35, of Cape Road, Seaton, who has a 14-year-old son, Billy, and six-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where her condition is described as critical.

Close family members, including her parents Kathleen and Alan Fisher and her sister Caroline Forber, 33, were yesterday at her bedside, after surgeons operated on Natalli for more than five hours.

Mrs Forber, of Peatfield Road, Seaton, said Natalli had sustained serious head injuries as well as severe damage to her pelvis and arm. She had also suffered a punctured lung.

She said: “It is awful. They were such close friends. Her friend was elderly and Natalli looked after her.”

Mrs Forber said the pair had been to Workington Hospital to pick up a prescription for the older woman and had caught the bus back to Asda to get it made up at the pharmacy.

“They got off the bus and were crossing the road to the shop when it happened,” she said.

Police closed the A596 both ways between Ellenborough Road in Maryport and Northside roundabout in Workington for forensic investigation work to take place.

The road reopened at 3.25am. Drivers were advised to avoid the area. Diversions were in place from Maryport and Northside.

The car driver, a 46-year-old man from Workington, was arrested on Saturday night on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is currently on police bail.

A police spokesman said he has now been released on bail while further inquiries are carried out.

Anyone with information about the collision should call police on 101.