The husband of a woman who died in a tragic accident has paid tribute to his loving and devoted wife.

Margaret Matthews, 74, of Heads Nook, near Brampton, was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash on the A689, near Brampton, in October last year.

An inquest heard how she died of multiple injuries and that a "momentary lapse of concentration" led to her death as she pulled out into the path of an oncoming lorry.

"It would appear she had made a catastrophic mistake and we don't know why," said Dr Nicholas Shaw, assistant coroner for Cumbria.

Phillip Matthews, 78, paid tribute to his wife of 52 years, describing her as a unique, talented artist and musician who was always happy and cheerful.

"She was just a happy-go-lucky person," he said in a statement.

"She was the most honest and trustworthy person I know. I couldn't wish for a more loving and devoted wife. We had so many wonderful times and memories."

Mr Matthews had never known his wife to make a mistake driving and said she was normally very careful, sometimes overcautious.

The inquest, held at Cumbria House in Carlisle, heard statements from Mrs Matthews' GP, Dr Mark Byers who attended the scene, eye witnesses and Derek Driver, who was in control of the Mercedes Atego light goods vehicle involved in the crash.

Collision investigator PC Dugald Cunningham explained that Mr Driver had little over a second to react when the Blue Skoda Fabia pulled out of the Carlisle Road junction on the A689, heading towards the city.

He said the junction would have been in Mr Driver's view for 9.2 seconds and when Mrs Matthew's moved out he was 1.1 seconds from the junction, leaving him "insufficient time to react".

He concluded that there was no evidence of a deliberate act by any person, no evidence of anyone using a mobile phone and that weather conditions, which were wet but clear, were not a factor.

There were no faults to the vehicles and neither driver was speeding, intoxicated or fatigued.

"Mrs Matthews failed to see or appreciate the close proximity of the LGV before exiting the junction," PC Cunningham said.

Mr Driver, of Lancaster, who works for Brakes food wholesalers, had already carried out a handful of deliveries and was travelling eastbound on the A689 to his next job in Alston.

The inquest was shown dash-cam footage from Mr Driver's vehicle showing the moment the car pulled out into its path.

"The witnesses said there was nothing that the lorry driver could do. We know that first hand," said Mr Shaw.

"I can only conclude that she had a momentary lapse of concentration - looking the other way, I don't know, and we never will.

"She drove out in a controlled manner across the road when Mr Driver's small truck was approaching and too close for him to do anything else.

"I have a great deal of sympathy with Mr Driver being in that position where an accident has happened that he is not able to do anything about.

"It has to go down as a terrible tragedy."

A post mortem report by Dr Fergus Young, a consultant pathologist at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary, concluded Mrs Matthews died of multiple injuries. The verdict of the inquest was recorded as death due to a road traffic collision.