A HEARTBROKEN family today paid tribute to a “caring and loving” Suffolk midwife who died after she was crushed by a runaway van.Lynda Ling, a midwife at Ipswich Hospital, was walking her dog in Foxhall Road, on Wednesday when the freak accident happened.

A HEARTBROKEN family today paid tribute to a “caring and loving” Suffolk midwife who died after she was crushed by a runaway van.

Lynda Ling, a midwife at Ipswich Hospital, was walking her dog in Foxhall Road, on Wednesday when the freak accident happened.

A white van, which had no driver at the time, is believed to have rolled backwards and pinned her against a road sign. Mrs Ling, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her devastated husband Andrew, and sons James and Paul Dodd, described her as a popular and loving wife and mother and said she will be deeply missed.

Mr Ling, of Valley View Road, Rushmere St Andrew, which is minutes from where the accident happened, said: “She was always fun to be with, saw positive in everything and everybody. She gave everybody the benefit of the doubt.

“She loved living in Suffolk. She liked the pace of life here. She was well thought of and liked by all her colleagues.

“She had a brilliant rapport with all the workers there from senior doctors, registrars', and health care workers alike. They all thought the world of Lynda. She could relate to all those levels.

“The family is too devastated to talk about the details of the accident. She will be missed by everybody.”

James, 30, from Maidstone, Kent, added: “I do not think anyone could want a better mother. She was very caring, incredibly thoughtful and she thought the world of her family.”

Mrs Ling, who leaves two grandchildren, was born in Horsham St Faith, near Norwich, and moved to Ipswich 14 years ago.

For the past 18 months, Mrs Ling had been enjoying a secondment to Ipswich Hospital's antenatal clinic.

“She enjoyed the work and she loved being in the antenatal clinic,” said Mr Ling yesterday.

“She had adjusted to changes in my career location. She dropped certain jobs and took up new ones and whatever she took on she rose to the challenge. She was great.

“I told her colleagues yesterday and said I didn't need any phone calls at the moment. But I know they are thinking of her.”

The couple had been married for 11 years and travelled all over the globe, including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Thailand, the Greek Islands and more recently America with Mrs Ling's grandchildren.

Mrs Ling also recently took part in the Moonwalk in London to raise money for breast cancer and loved walking.

Mr Ling, 46, was at work when the accident happened on Wednesday. He said the couple took it in turns to walk their pet Labrador, Murphy, but mostly it was Mrs Ling.

Son James said: “It's just disbelief. You couldn't wish for a better mother. She was incredibly caring and always looking out for her sons. We were a very close family.”

Mrs Ling's eldest son, Paul, 37, who has rushed back from a family holiday in France, said: “She was the best mother in the world. I will miss her for the rest of my life.”

An investigation into the accident, which happened close to the Nuffield Hospital, is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pc David Horne at Martlesham roads policing unit on 01473 613500.

Would you like to pay tribute to Lynda Ling? Call The Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324789 or email starnews@eveningstar.co.uk.