By Sharon AsplinA MOTORIST who collided with a car being driven by his next-door neighbour has been charged with causing her death while over the drink-drive limit.

By Sharon Asplin

A MOTORIST who collided with a car being driven by his next-door neighbour has been charged with causing her death while over the drink-drive limit.

Adrian Mayhew was badly injured in the horrific head-on crash which killed mother Joanne Bardell less than two miles from their semi-detached Wivenhoe homes.

Mr Mayhew has now been formally accused of causing the death of Ms Bardell by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol and will appear before Colchester magistrates tomorrow morning.

Ms Bardell's Ford Fiesta was in a head-on collision with a Seat Toledo driven by Mr Mayhew as they were travelling in opposite directions on a main road at the top of the riverside town.

Ms Bardell, 31, and Mr Mayhew, now 37, who lived in either side of a semi-detached house in Denham Close, were involved in the accident on the B1028 Colchester Road in September last year - just minutes away from their homes.

Ms Bardell, who had moved to the area relatively recently, was pronounced dead at Colchester General Hospital two hours after the accident as a result of her injuries.

Mr Mayhew, an engineer, received back injuries in the crash.

Both of them were alone in their vehicles at the time.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “I can confirm that a 37-year-old man has been charged with causing the death of Joanne Bardell by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol.

“He will be appearing in Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday February 6.”

Ms Bardell's inquest will be held at a later date.