Pair die celebrating 59th anniversary - inquest

A couple on holiday to celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary died after pulling out in front of a lorry carrying 12 tonnes of chicken, an inquest has heard.

Raymond Mullen, 78, and his wife Loraine Mullen, 77, died on the A17 outside King's Lynn as they were returning to their home in Wiltshire after staying in Cromer.

Their daughter told the inquest she believed her parents were attempting a U-turn after missing their turn-off, and said the family were "devastated" by their loss.

Assistant Coroner for Norfolk, Christopher Leach, concluded the pair died as a result of a road collision on 24 July after pulling out in front of the lorry.

The couple were originally from Scotland, and Mr Mullen's role in the military meant the family had travelled extensively, according to a statement by their daughter Julie Paget.

The pair had visited Cromer to celebrate their anniversary, and the eldest of their three children said: "My dad would never have intentionally pulled out in front of the lorry."

The couple's black Mercedes was pulling out of a layby and CCTV fitted in the Volvo lorry showed that the car was not indicating.

In a statement, Robin Vaughan, who was driving the HGV, said he had travelled on the road many times and had been carrying 12 tonnes of fresh chicken.

He had been driving professionally for 43 years and said the incident had left him in shock.

A police report into the crash said the car had turned into the path of the lorry and the driver had approximately one second before the collision.

The coroner concluded that the couple died as a result of a road traffic collision.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.