The inquest of a grandmother killed after she paid a cab outside her home has been opened.

Yesterday Bradford Coroner’s Court opened and adjourned the inquest meaning Mary Byrne’s family can now arrange their mother’s funeral.

The mother-of-four was just yards from her front door when the private hire car she had just paid on Mandale Road, Horton Bank Top, on Saturday, April 20, was involved in a two-car collision which left her fatally injured.

She had spent the afternoon celebrating a friend’s birthday before her tragic death.

The accident happened near the gates of a primary school where a road safety message designed by her seven-year-old granddaughter Grace pleaded for drivers to be considerate.

The opening of the inquest means the family can now go ahead with the funeral at St Michael’s and All Angels Church in Halifax Road, Shelf, on Monday, June 3, at 11.30am, followed by burial at North Bierley Cemetery.

There will be a collection at the church for Martin House Hospice and Brake, the road safety charity, and family flowers only.

The 51-year-old, who was a cook at Cooper House nursing home, was well-known in the area and daughter Sam Rees, 33, who lives near Keighley, said the funeral service would be open to everyone.

“She was obviously still a young woman when this happened, so anybody who knew her from school or anywhere is welcome to come, anyone who would like to pay their respects,” she said.

“We’re just hoping that we can celebrate ev-erything about my mum.

“We’ve got to rem-ember the good things and not just what happened.

“We’d like to thank everybody for their support and the police who have been doing so much.”

“We can now lay my mum to rest, but this next year is going to be a long year. The funeral is just the first step of what we’ve got to go through.”

Police arrested three men, aged 17, 19 and 21, following the incident.

They were released on bail and the investigation continues. Yesterday a police spokesman said: “This remains an extremely complex enquiry and we would like to hear from further witnesses who may have not come forward.”

Anyone with information, including sightings of a black BMW 3 Series or blue Ford Focus before the accident, should contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team on (01924) 293047 or via 101.