A DISTRAUGHT coach driver is in mourning after the wife he met over a garden fence suddenly dropped dead on a foreign holiday.

Angela Mitchell was in good spirits moments before she collapsed as her husband of 30 years, Maurice, admired the mountain view from the balcony of their hotel room in Andorra.

Paramedics spent 90 minutes unsuccessfully trying to revive Mrs Mitchell, 66, after he found her slumped on the floor when he returned to the room.

“It’s one big dream and I still haven’t woken up,” said Mr Mitchell, of Blackdown View, Norton Fitzwarren, who drives vintage buses.

“We travelled through the Channel Tunnel and on the coach down through France we were making teas and coffees for the other passengers.

“When we arrived at the hotel in Andorra, we had our evening meal and everything was normal.

“When we went up to our room I went out onto the balcony to see the lovely mountain views and Angela stayed in the room to unpack.

“When I went back inside she was on the floor and wasn’t moving.”

Mrs Mitchell, who leaves a son, Robert, two stepdaughters, six step-grandchildren, seven step- great grandchildren, two brothers, three nephews and a niece, was a housekeeping assistant at The Manor Nursing Home, Bishop’s Hull.

“I first met her over the garden fence when she lived next door to my sister in Taunton it was love at first sight,” said Mr Mitchell.

“She was liked by everybody and would have done anything for anyone.

“She seemed healthy, which is why it’s such a shock – she was her usual bubbly self and was looking forward to swimming the following day.

“It seems that she had a heart attack.”

Son Robert said: “She was a kind, gentle person who always liked to help and had a good sense of humour.”

Angela’s body was flown home from Barcelona and the funeral is at Norton Fitzwarren Parish Church at noon on Monday followed by burial at Taunton Deane Cemetery, with arrangements by E. White & Sons.

The coffin will travel to the cemetery in a vintage bus as she used to be the conductor on vehicles driven by her husband.