PENRYN was again in mourning this week after the tragic death of a mother and daughter in an horrific head-on collision in mid-Cornwall at the weekend.

Linda Birkett, 32, a classroom assistant at Penryn Infant School and her 14-year-old daughter, Shannah, a pupil at Penryn Community College, died on the A38 near Bodmin at around 2pm on Sunday. Their deaths come just over a year after 15-year-old Kathryn Price, also a Penryn College pupil, died in a car accident on the Penryn by-pass.

The two-vehicle collision occurred on the A38 at Glynn Valley, between Bodmin Parkway Station and Trago Mills, and involved Mrs Birkett's Ford Ka and a Jeep Cherokee. The couple in the Cherokee only received slight injuries in the accident.

Peter Birkett, aged 11, was a rear seat passenger in the Ka and suffered two broken legs and head injuries in the accident. He is currently with his father, Geoffrey, at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro where he underwent surgery. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

It is thought that Mrs Birkett's mother and sister have come down from up-country to help.

The family home at Bissom, where Mrs Birkett has lived most of her life, was empty on Tuesday with only the family dog in the front garden.

Neighbour Terry Jarvis said the small community of Bissom, which is on the road between Penryn and Mylor Bridge, was trying to come to terms with the loss of Linda and her daughter.

"They were just a nice, nice family," said Mr Jarvis. "My kids played with their kids. They kept themselves to themselves. It's a terrible shame, such a shock.

"I heard about the accident on the news, then an hour later we had the police knocking on the door looking for Geoff. She's lived in the house all her life and her parents lived there before her.

"When they moved out she moved in. They've been there for a long, long time. It's been a great, great shock for everyone here."

This week both schools issued statements saying they had been devastated by the two deaths.

Gillian Wright, headteacher at Penryn infants, said as a mark of respect the school would be closing on the day of Mrs Birkett's funeral to allow staff to attend.

"We are greatly missing her," she said. "It has been a devastating shock to the school, to the staff and to the pupils. She was part of a very close knit circle of friends and she was just a lovely, lovely lady and the children all loved her."

Mrs Birkett joined the infant school as a parent helper when Shannon started and she had then been appointed as a classroom assistant six years ago. She worked mainly in the nursery, but also throughout the school when the need arose - she even helped out at the office.

In a letter sent to parents on Monday, Mrs Wright said Linda's death had left a hole in the school community.

"Mrs Birkett was a very kind, quiet and lovely lady who loved the children and the children loved her. She has left a hole in our school community, which we, in time, will fill with happy memories of her. Today is a very sad day for our school."

For Penryn College the death of Shannah comes almost exactly a year after the tragic death of former pupil Kathryn Price in a car accident on the A39 Penryn by-pass.

Marie Hunter, head teacher at Penryn College, said: "We have been really shocked by the news of the tragic death of Shannah and her mum, and the serious injury of Peter.

"Shannah was a bubbly young lady and a popular member of the college. She loved art and drama and had ambitions to be an actress. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time."

Shannah was in year ten at the college and Peter, aged 11, is in year seven. Shannah's year group and tutor group were told in a special assembly, while the rest of the school were told in their tutor groups.

Penryn mayor Mary May has sent a letter of condolence to Mr Birkett expressing the council's "deepest sympathies" at the terrible news and saying she was terribly saddened.

Mrs May says she was sure the community of Penryn would "rally round" at this "deeply difficult and distressing time."

Investigations are still continuing as to the cause of the collision which closed the road for seven and a half hours. Any witnesses who have not spoken to police already, are asked to call the police quoting log number 762/23/09.

An inquest was due to be opened and adjourned on Tuesday.

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Tributes were being posted yesterday on the Packet's web site to Linda Birkett and her daughter Shannah.

Gemma Wilkes wrote: "You were such a lovely girl Shan. You didn't deserve this. We'll be thinking of you and your mum everyday."

Sharlene Pascoe wrote: "Rest in peace Shannah and Linda. You never deserved this."