TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-time servant of Bradford Bulls who was killed in a road accident this weekend.

Debbie Charlton, who was the sponsorship and relationship manager at the Bulls for 15 years, died following a two-car collision in Calderdale on Saturday night.

After a lengthy stint at Odsal, she joined FC Halifax Town in 2013 to lead the business development team for the football club.

Police said she was travelling as a passenger in one of the vehicles when the collision happened at about 8.30pm in Rochdale Road, Triangle, near Halifax.

Last night, Bradford Bulls chief executive Robbie Hunter-Paul spoke of his shock at the news. And he sent sincere condolences to her family from all at Odsal.

Mr Hunter-Paul said: “I’m absolutely devastated. Debbie was a personal friend of mine after working closely at the club for a number of years.

“To say I am shocked is an understatement and she has got a close-knit family who my heart goes out to.

“It is absolutely dreadful news and the club would like to pass its most sincere condolences to Debbie’s family.”

Officials at FC Halifax Town added their condolences.

Kelly Gilchrist, the web co-ordinator at Halifax, issued a statement on behalf of the club yesterday afternoon.

It read: “It is with sadness that FC Halifax Town announce the death of Debbie Charlton, director for business development, following a motor accident early on Saturday evening. The car in which she was travelling as a passenger was in collision with another car. Everyone involved with the club extend their condolences to her family and friends at this sad, sad time.”

When Debbie joined Halifax, the club said at the time that she had “a wide range of sports sales and commercial experience, not least with a prolonged spell at the Bradford Bulls,”

A police spokesman confirmed that two cars collided on Rochdale Road, Triangle, at about 8.30pm on Saturday. He confirmed that a female passenger in one of the vehicles had died as a result of the crash.

Six other people were injured in the collision. The road was shut until the early hours of yesterday.