THE children of a cyclist who died on the A420 have paid to tribute to their fun-loving mother - describing her as the "backbone" to their family.

Christine Jones, 47, of Barn Ground, Longworth, near Abingdon, died in a crash with a car at 8.15am on Saturday on the westbound carriageway between Longworth and Charney Bassett junctions.

Her children said their mother, a cycling fanatic, was loved by so many and was never without a smile.

Paramedics were unable to save Mrs Jones, who died at the scene of the accident. The driver of the car, a green Renault Laguna, was not injured, and no arrest was made by Thames Valley Police.

Her son Christopher Jones, 26, who works for BMW, said: "Mum was such a happy, bouncy person and was never without a smile on her face.

"She loved cycling. She would go cycling every day without fail - riding 12 miles a day around all the roads and villages. People recognised her because she wore her woolly hat.

"She would get through a set of tyres every six months. The other day she showed me her speedometer. She had done thousands of miles - so many that she had to re-set it."

Her daughter, Siobhan Jones, 24, recently moved out of the family home. She said: "She loved to go to Millets for the pick-your-own strawberries and raspberries and cycle back with them.

"She would get dressed up every Saturday night and go out dancing. She just loved to dance."

She said her mother would ride to a social club in Bourton, near Shrivenham, to dance, adding: "She would go all that way just to dance.

"She had an infectious smile and so many friends. We cannot believe how many friends."

Mrs Jones, who was a full-time carer to her husband of 28 years, Christopher Jones, had just started out on her daily cycle ride when the accident took place.

The pair had been due to celebrate their anniversary on Saturday.

Her son, Christopher Jones, added: "Our life changed on Saturday at 10am - and dad has lost everything.

"We have to step into mum's shoes now. He was completely devoted to her. He worshipped the ground she walked on.

"We have lost the backbone of our family.

"We told her and told her to keep off that by-pass - but she would not listen. She did her own thing because she loved cycling."

There have been a number of serious accidents on the road - including the death of a motorcyclist following a collision with a car at Watchfield, last month.

But Mr Jones added: "I am not angry about the road, because we have lived near it for so long. I am more angry that I am never going to see our mum again. Roads do not kill people - it's the people on them.

"But my heart goes out to the person who hit Mum because I have heard they are not dealing with it very well."