A POPULAR charity stalwart died from a head injury after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing a busy road.

An inquest into the death of June Martin, 62, from Denholme, was opened at Bradford Coroners’ Court yesterday.

During the brief hearing, Assistant Coroner Oliver Longstaff confirmed Mrs Martin died at 6.25pm on November 14 as she crossed Wakefield Road in Bradford.

A post-mortem examination has taken place and the full report is awaited, but Mr Longstaff said the cause of death had been determined as a head injury due to a road traffic collision.

At the time, police said the driver of the Vauxhall Astra, a man in thirties, had been spoken to by officers.

A date for the full inquest hearing is yet to be fixed.

This week, friends and fellow villagers in Denholme – where Mrs Martin had lived for two decades – spoke of their shock at her death and paid tribute.

Mrs Martin set-up the Mpika Village of Hope charity, formerly the Mpika Relief Fund, 15 years ago to support orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.

Since then, thousands of pounds have been raised and countless young lives transformed.

Anne Sherriff, leader of Denholme Town Council, described June as "one of Denholme’s most loved and respected villagers".

The town council is donating £50 to the charity in her memory.

And Brian Newham, a trustee of the Mpika Village of Hope who had known Mrs Martin for about 18 years, said she was a "wonderful person".