Tragedy of perfect neighbour who cared for others

AT the age of 88, Margaret Burrows could have been expected to take it easy.

Instead, the widow devoted her days to caring for her elderly friends and baking treats for neighbours.

Today her close-knit Wirral community told of their heartbreak at the loss of their "perfect neighbour", who died after being knocked down by a supermarket delivery van.

Mrs Burrows - known to many as Peggy - was hit by a Mercedes box van in the car park of Asda on Seaview Road, Liscard, on Saturday afternoon.

An ambulance arrived within minutes but paramedics were unable to save her.

Locals told the ECHO Mrs Burrows was well-known and popular. She used to shop for those too frail to look after themselves.

Her sister, Marjorie Ann Taylor, said she was devastated.

She said: "We were very close and I was only talking to her half an hour before she died.

"She rang me to tell me she was going to Asda to buy some white marzipan to make petit fours for Christmas and I said 'Goodbye, God Bless' as we always do.

"It's such a shock and I still can't take it in. I absolutelyloved her - she was so special and used to look after so many people."

The keen whist player and churchgoer used to run a fish and chip shop in Belvidere Road, Wallasey, with her husband Norman.

The staunch Conservative was fiercely independent and even though she was in her late 80s insisted on climbing ladders to clean the guttering in her detached bungalow in Harrow Close, Wallasey.

Neighbours remember she was always shopping for friends in Wallasey, many of whom were younger than her, but in ill-health.

Mr Burrows, who died a year ago, served in the RAF during the war and was devoted to his wife. They had no children.

Neighbour Doreen Sutton said: "They were married for 60 years and he was a perfect gentleman.

"She was such a lovely woman and they were like the heart of the community. If you went shopping with her you wouldn't get anything done because she knew everyone.

"When I split up with my husband she would make me treacle toffee and really looked after me.

"Everyone round here will really miss her, she was a marvellous neighbour."

Merseyside police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to contact their traffic unit on 0151-777 5730.