A MARRIED mother with a 22-month-old son has been killed in a tragic road accident.Beth Howell was killed on Wednesday after she lost control of her car and hit a brick wall near Colchester Zoo.

A MARRIED mother with a 22-month-old son has been killed in a tragic road accident.

Beth Howell was killed on Wednesday after she lost control of her car and hit a brick wall near Colchester Zoo.

Her husband Alex, of Howard's Croft, Colchester, paid tribute to Mrs Howell, describing her as “a devoted wife and mother”. She also leaves a 22-month-old son, Joseph.

He said: “I am devastated, as is Beth's entire family and my own parents, who treated her as their very own daughter.

“Beth was a devoted wife and mother. She was full of life and had an infectious energy. Her energy and enthusiasm for life was an inspiration to people who came into contact with her. The whole family loved her dearly and she will be greatly missed.”

The 30-year-old financier grew up in the Chelmsford area. She was a pupil at Sandon comprehensive school and then Chelmsford College.

She worked for Abbey National and Lombard Business Finance in east London, before moving to Lombard's offices in Brentwood. This January she started her own business with a former colleague in Chelmsford, specialising in business finance brokering.

Mrs Howell met Alex, also 30, an accountant, in 1992. They married six years later. They moved to Colchester to begin their married life and had Joseph in February 2004.

She was a keen sportswoman and a keep-fit enthusiast. She played basketball at school, continuing with the sport into adulthood.

She took up netball five years ago and was a member of Conquerors All Blacks Netball Club, based in Chelmsford, playing regularly in the local leagues. She also played for Redbridge Netball Club in the Essex Metropolitan League.

As well as her husband and son, Mrs Howell leaves her mother, Brenda, sister, Emma, both from the Chelmsford area, and her father Michael who lives in Devon.

Mrs Howell was driving a silver Ford Focus car at 6.40am on Wednesday on the B1022 Maldon Road at Stanway when she lost her life.

She was travelling towards Maldon when the accident happened. She was declared dead at the scene.

Yesterday police renewed their appeal for witnesses to the crash. Investigating officer, Pc Dave Clark, of Stanway road policing unit, said: “This death is another completely tragic event and unnecessary loss of life.

“It is brought particularly into focus by the time of year. I only hope it is not repeated. We would like to establish the cause behind the crash and are particularly appealing for those motorists who were travelling towards Colchester on the B1022 at the time of the crash and saw Beth in her Focus.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Stanway Road Policing Unit on 01206 762512.