CHILDREN at a special needs school were this morning being told of the death of a popular member of staff, killed in a car crash.

The 45-year-old victim of the accident, in Barnhorn Road, Bexhill, on Monday evening was grandmother Carol Temmerman, of Lottbridge Drive, Eastbourne.

The general assistant at Lindfield School, Hampden Park, was the front-seat passenger in a Renault which was in collision with a Toyota.

Her 23-year-old daughter and three-year-old grand- daughter, both back-seat passengers, were among the injured.

Mrs Temmerman joined the school in 1986 and also worked there as a lunch supervisor.

Her commitment to the children also led her to take up a post on the school's governing body.

Head teacher Jane Oatway: "This is something we have suddenly had to come to terms with. This

morning I am telling the children in her classes what has happened."

Mrs Oatway, who was consoling distraught children and staff, said the school is to pay tribute to Mrs Temmerman's life and work at a special assembly this afternoon.

Also injured in the head- on crash was the 49-year-old Renault driver and the 24-year-old Toyota driver, who was travelling alone.

Firefighters, including crews from Bexhill and a specialist rescue support unit from Battle, fought for more than an hour to free those trapped.

Mrs Temmerman was taken to The Conquest Hospital, Hastings, where she was declared dead on arrival.

Her daughter, who suffered serious multiple injuries, is still undergoing treatment. A hospital

spokesman this morning described her condition as comfortable.

Mrs Temmerman's grand-daughter, who suffered minor injuries, is being cared for by family members.

The Toyota driver's condition has been described as comfortable.

The Renault driver was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital by police helicopter suffering from serious injuries.

Mrs Temmerman's death is the sixth so far this year on East Sussex roads.

Jason Wood, 26, of St Leonards was the first fatality of the new millennium when his Ford Escort hit an electricity pylon at Whatlington in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.