Christine Capstick, 63, collapsed in the passenger seat of her car on the way home to Cottam, Preston.

John, 74, who was married to Christine for 26 years, said: "Christine's brother Charles had died of a heart attack and we had been to Huddersfield for his funeral.

"We were on our way home when Christine let out a small cry. She was eating a packet of crisps at the time, so at first I thought she had choked on a crisp.

"I pulled over and dialled 999.

"The ambulance arrived in less than five minutes and they got her breathing and took her to hospital."

Doctors at the Royal Bolton Hospital discovered that Christine, who as Christine Williams was crowned Miss Lambretta in 1964, had suffered an aneurysm which had burst near her heart.

When they operated to try to save her, her heart stopped and they were unable to revive her.

In a sad twist of fate, John revealed his first wife Irene also died of an aneurysm in very similar circumstances. She was 35.

John, who has a son and daughter from his first marriage and a 33-year old son, James, with Christine, said: "I still cannot believe that Christine has died in almost the identical way as there were no symptoms and she seemed healthy and well.

"You wouldn't think that lightning would strike twice."

Before Christine met John, she was a huge fan of scooters. She won the title of Miss Lambretta 1964 aged 18 after competing with girls from all over England.

John said: "Christine was very outgoing,could talk to anyone and had a wonderful personality.

"Our son has Asperger's Syndrome and cannot understand other people's emotions. Christine was a great mother and was Jimmy's protector.

"Christine used to describe me as her rock, but it was actually the other way round.

"She was a beautiful woman who put her family first.

"I will miss her greatly."

Christine died on November 2 and her funeral was held on Thursday.

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