TRIBUTES have been paid to an 88-year-old grandmother who has died after being knocked down by a lorry as she left her doctors’ surgery.

Enid Marie Ord fought for her life for eight weeks after she was hit by a lorry making a delivery to Clifton Health Centre in Clifton, York, in July.

The doctors who rushed from the surgery to help were able to save her life, her family said, but despite her struggle to survive she died in Leeds General Infirmary two months later.

The kind-hearted retired teacher was well known in York for teaching generations of families and for her voluntary work to help others.

Jane Phythian, Mrs Ord's daughter said: "She was kind, bubbly, fun, thoughtful and spirited - and she was very precious to me.

"She made a big difference to people's lives and she will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her."

Mrs Ord loved life and had made a huge impact on staff at Leeds General Infirmary, her daughter said.

"She was very resilient," son-in-law Mick Phythian said, "The staff were as upset as we were. We had condolences from everyone from the consultant down. She had struggled hard to survive".

Mrs Phythian thanked the compassionate staff at the hospital who had allowed her to stay in her mother's room for the last week of her life.

Mrs Ord had been incredibly proud to learn her grandson Ashley had earned a first class degree in economics and maths this year and while she was in hospital she learned he had secured a paid internship at Manchester Metropolitan University.

She had also been hugely proud of her daughter when she earned a Big Difference Award in 2004 for her work at Hempland Primary School and her voluntary efforts to improve other people's lives.

Mrs Ord was born in York and moved to Bakewell as a child before returning to the city at the age of 23.

She married her late husband and fellow teacher Roy Ord in 1952, and went on to teach at Heworth Primary School before moving to Burdyke Infant School, now Burton Green Primary School.

Very community minded, she was a founder member of York Geology Club along with Skelton Park Golf Club, delivered Meals on Wheels and played the piano for patients in Clifton Hospital as well as other voluntary work.

She is survived by her sister, Sylvia Fearn, and brother Ted Raine, daughter and son-in-law Jane and Mick and grandson Ashley Phythian.

An inquest has heard how Mrs Ord was struck by a lorry which was delivering items to the health centre. She developed hospital acquired pneumonia while she was being treated, York Coroner's Court was told.

A 43-year-old man from Leeds has been arrested on suspicion of driving without due care and attention in connection with the incident and is currently on police bail.

The NHS has confirmed it will be carrying out work to improve the safety of the Clifton Health Centre car park for use by pedestrians.

Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option two – and ask for Traffic Constable Lee Cobb or Tadcaster Roads Policing Group. Alternatively, information can be emailed to lee.cobb@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk -A humanist celebration of Mrs Ord's life is to be held at 2pm on Monday at the Chapel of York Cemetery, Cemetery Road, York. The family has asked for donations in lieu of flowers to go to the York-based Brunswick Organic Nursery and Accessible Art and Media.