Family helps finish cycle quest after arm break

Zackary Blades and Karlene Warner were killed on the A1(M) in County Durham

A grandmother's family stepped in to help her complete a cycle challenge in memory of her daughter and grandson after she broke her arm.

Karlene Warner, 30, and her eight-month-old nephew Zackary Blades died on the A1(M) in County Durham when they were hit by a speeding drunk driver.

Alison Warner challenged herself to a 700-mile (1,127km) ride from her home in France to County Durham, to raise money for a private room in Darlington Hospital for families.

During the final stretch, she fell and broke her arm, so Zackary's father, Jack Blades, stepped up and completed the final 80 miles (129km).

Ms Warner, 59, had reached York when she skidded on a curb and broke her humerus bone.

She said she was "touched" when Mr Blades offered to take on the last leg.

"Jack's such amazing person, his mum Kelly has done an amazing job raising him," she said.

Ms Warner's family pushed her in a wheelchair for the last mile and a half

Dozens of people met Mr Blades and Ms Warner in County Durham on Thursday.

They pushed Ms Warner in her wheelchair for the final mile and a half of the route.

Ms Warner said: "Karlene and Zackary were never away from my thoughts, which helped with coping with the pain.

"The challenge is going through life without them, not the bike ride."

She was raising money to build a private room in Darlington Hospital for families, after her family used the "haven room" in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) after the collision.

They completed the challenge in time for what would have been Karlene's 31st birthday.