A FAMILY has paid tribute to a well-known mother-of-three who died after a car accident while holidaying in South Africa.

Karen Taylor, 62, was involved in an accident as she drove from a visit to a game reserve back to Cape Town, where she had been spending the New Year with her daughter, Rebecca, who works in Africa.

Mrs Taylor, of Ilkley, was known to many residents of the town, and was a member of a number of local groups. She was for some years the treasurer of Ilkley Candlelighters, which raises many thousands of pounds in support of a children's cancer unit in Leeds.

She had lived in Ilkley for 38 years.

Her husband, Tim, said: "She will be a huge loss to her family and wide circle of friends."

Despite significant ill health when younger, she lived life to the full, said her family.

She developed thyroid cancer at the age of 33, the treatment for which left her unable to speak or eat.

Her initial breakthrough came when treatment was finished and she was able to undergo a bone graft operation to rebuild her windpipe to partially regain her voice. However this success was not permanent and in following years she used an electronic voice device.

Following Christmas at home in Ilkley with husband Tim, elder son Edward and daughter-in-law Gemma, she had been on holiday in Cape Town over New Year, with Tim and daughter Rebecca.

She and Tim had planned the holiday to meet Rebecca, who is a doctor and is currently working at a charity clinic in Namibia. Tim and Rebecca were attending the England Test cricket match, and Karen was exploring the city and the surrounding areas. She had a trip to Australia planned for later this month to visit her younger son, George.

On the day of her death she had been to a game reserve north of Cape Town, and spent the morning watching elephants, rhinos and lions. The accident occurred during the drive back to Cape Town, and she died on her way to hospital.

An inquest is expected to be opened in the UK shortly.

Her daughter, Rebecca, said her mother's love of life was not diminished by her illness, and she lived life to the full,

Rebecca said: "She was a member of many local groups, including Scottish Country Dancing, Ilkley Women’s Group, bridge groups, the Ilkley Concert Club and was for many years the treasurer for Ilkley Candlelighters. She was highly visible driving her sports car around the town.

"She had a great love of penguins, which she saw in the wild for the first time three days before her death."

Her funeral has yet to be arranged.