A 78-year-old pensioner from Layham has vowed never to drive again after being jailed for 12 months following a head on collision that killed a 'much-loved' grandmother.

Colin Brown from Upper Street, Lower Layham near Hadleigh, fell asleep at the wheel of his Renault Master van, which was towing a caravan and carrying his wife i the passenger seat.

The vehicle drifted across a main road inear Penrith n Cumbria and collided head on with Mrs Anne Copley who Carlisle Crown Court heard had no chance to avoid the crash.

Brown, had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving when the case was heard in Carlisle last July, although he attended by phone from his Suffolk home.

In an impact statement to the court heard yesterday, one of her three daughters, Penny Allison, said of the crash: "From that moment our lives have never been the same and never will be again. She didn't deserve to go like that – no-one does."

Mrs Copley, she said, was "full of life, happy and outgoing", and "mentally still in her 50s, young at heart, very active". Describing her mother's loss as "immense", Mrs Allison said she lived for her four "devastated" grandchildren, revealing: "They brought each other so much mischief and fun."

Prosecutor Jeremy Grout-Smith added: "She was, in reality, the only grandparent of those children, and they have lost that generation now in its entirety."

Andrew Nuttall, defending, said Brown's remorse was "wholly genuine" and he had been left "utterly distraught". "He fell asleep but he didn't intend to do that. He never intended to hurt anyone. He never intended to drive poorly," said Mr Nuttall. "There has been a death and he is responsible for it. It will haunt him for the rest of his life."

Judge Nicholas Barker heard of Brown's poor health, his own previous family tragedies and considered references, but imposed an immediate 12-month jail term.

"There are some who may observe that 'what is the point of sending an elderly man of your age into custody?'," said the judge. "But I, and this court, recognise that there is a significant body of ageing population who drive; who also hold a significant duty of responsibility for their driving to the care of others. That is the message that, in my judgement, must be made and must be sent out."

Brown will serve a three-year ban when released although Mr Nuttall said: "He will never drive again."

Brown was flown to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for treatment to his own injuries in the accident, with his wife asleep in the passenger seat.