A motorist accused of causing the death of a jogger by careless driving has been cleared by a jury.

Chantel Macbain, 26, of Shardlow Close, Haverhill, claimed she collided with Claire Taylor after skidding on ice.

She denied causing 41-year-old Mrs Taylor’s death by careless driving on December 27 2016.

Following the not guilty verdict Mrs Taylor’s family issued a statement which said: “The whole family continue to be devastated by the loss of our beloved Claire, a wonderful mother, wife, daughter, sister and best friend.

“Our children are still trying to come to terms with not being able to say ‘goodbye’ to their mummy and not having her around for the rest of their lives.”

Mrs Taylor, a mother-of-two, had been training for the 2017 Rome Marathon at the time of the collision and was heading home from a training run along the B1061 near Great Bradley, when she was struck by a Vauxhall Corsa driven by Macbain.

“The impact with Mrs Taylor propelled her a distance of some 35 metres in the air into an adjoining field and she died at the scene from her injuries,” said David Wilson, prosecuting.

He claimed Macbain failed to adjust her speed to the icy road conditions.

The road was due to have been gritted the night before but this hadn’t taken place due to an error.

Giving evidence during the trial Macbain broke down in tears as she described the collision.

She had been on her way to Mildenhall and said although it was a cold day she hadn’t been aware of ice on the road.

She claimed she had moved out to avoid Mrs Taylor and had lost control of her car after skidding on ice.

Following the collision she had stopped and called emergency services after seeing Mrs Taylor lying in a field.

Macbain said that apart from a speeding offence three years ago she had no previous convictions.