A COUPLE were returning from celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary when a van crashed into them, killing the husband.

The van driver - who has been prosecuted for careless driving - had come out of a B-road at a crossroads without stopping.

Stephen Bullock, 52, of The Beeches, Acton, died of serious head injuries on April 18.

His wife Christine, 49, said: 'I cannot sleep in my own house, I expect Steve to walk through the door. He was my soul mate. There are days when I cannot go on without Steve, but I think of the children.

'It seems so unnecessary that he lost his life.'

While growing up in the Wrexham area, the couple dated as youngsters but had gone their separate ways, a Flint inquest heard. Christine married and had three children and Steve married and had six children.

By chance, they met again in Wrexham after both had divorced and ended up marrying on April 15, 1995.

'We were really happy,' said Mrs Bullock.

To celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, the couple had gone to the Grand Hotel in Llandudno for a Sixties music weekend and were making their way home on Monday, April 18. They had decided to go via Bwlchgwyn to see where Steve had once lived.

Mrs Bullock, a front-seat passenger said that, as they approached the crossroads of the A525 and B5430 at the Moors pub near Bwlchgwyn, a large white Mercedes van hit them from the side.

'Before I could scream or anything, it had struck us,' said Mrs Bullock.

The couple's Astra van rolled over twice and ended up on its roof. Mrs Bullock suffered several fractures and bruises.

Mr Bullock had to be cut free by emergency services but was declared dead when he arrived at Wrexham Maelor Hospital's A&E department. He had cerebral contusions due to a fractured skull.

North East Wales coroner John Hughes said the Mercedes delivery van driver, Daniel George Robertson of Manchester, had admitted careless driving and been fined £250 and disqualified from driving for four months.

Mr Robertson said he did not know the road.

'As I approached it looked like a T-junction,' he said. 'I noticed the markings but, because of the wet and the line was worn, I saw it too late. I went back to the scene and said to myself 'how could I miss it?''

Accident investigator PC Colin Graham said there were four advance warning signs, but police were recommending to the highways authority that it should consider further road markings to make motorists more aware of the junction.

Mr Hughes, recording a verdict of accidental death, told Mrs Bullock: 'You and your husband were coming home from a very pleasant weekend in Llandudno. You were on the correct side of the road. The larger van emerged from the crossroads and collided with the offside of your vehicle, flipping you over and inflicting dreadful injuries on our husband.

'Mr Robertson has already been dealt with by the court and I have no doubt there will be civil implications.'