HUNDREDS of mourners gathered at the Central Oxford Mosque yesterday to say goodbye to a grandmother killed in a collision with a fire engine.

Sultana Begum, 79, died at the John Radcliffe Hospital on Friday evening following the accident in Cowley Road earlier that afternoon.

The grandmother, who lived in the street, was crossing the road when she was hurt in the crash with the engine, which was being driven to an emergency in Blackbird Leys.

At least 800 people attended the 11.30am funeral at the Manzil Way mosque, before her body was flown to Pakistan to be buried.

Neighbours paid tribute to the pensioner and told the Oxford Mail that Mrs Begum – the mother of taxi driver Tariq Mahmood – was often out visiting friends and family.

Cowley Road resident Shagufta Ali, 28, said: “She was an old fragile lady but she was still out every day going for walks.We all feel really shocked. It is just sad.”

Neighbour Rosalinda Landon said she had often helped Mrs Begum across the road. The 65-year-old said: “She was a good old lady. I always helped her to cross the road – this time I missed it.”

Nusrat Ali, 40, also of Cowley Road, said: “She was a really nice person. She was healthy and never ill. I am still shocked. I could not sleep last night.”

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service was answering an emer-gency call before the collision between Howard Street and Shelley Road.

Thames Valley Police are investigating the incident.

The force said on Friday that the woman was in her 50s, but revealed on Saturday she was 79.

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