By Daily Mail Reporters

Last updated at 6:16 PM on 21st October 2010

A mother of two died after she was trapped under her car while trying to clear ice from the windows.

The freak accident happened as temperatures plunged across much of the North of England and Scotland.

A neighbour spotted Andrea Southern, 43, crushed under her black Fiat Panda and called an ambulance.

Tragic: Andrea Southern’s house in Widnes where she died after being crushed by her car

It is believed she had started the engine in order to help clear the the ice while she sprayed de-icer on the windows outside the car.

The vehicle then rolled back on the driveway, dragging her under the front wheels.

Police cordoned off Wickham Close, Widnes, Cheshire, and Mrs Southern’s husband John and two young daughters were told to stay inside their home, where they have lived for 10 years, while firefighters worked to cut Mrs Southern free.

She was taken to Whiston Hospital with serious crush injuries to her upper body but died at 4.30pm yesterday.

A North West ambulance service spokesman said: ‘When paramedics arrived, she had gone into cardiac arrest, but they found a pulse.’

A police spokesman said: ‘Inquiries suggest she was defrosting her car when it is thought to have started and rolled backwards, dragging her under the front wheels.

‘Police believe she was trapped for around half an hour before her neighbour found her.

‘Police are appealing to anyone who was in the Wickham Close area of Widnes yesterday morning between around 6.15am and 7am to make contact with the officer investigating the incident, even if you feel you have seen nothing of relevance.

Joiner Ryan Gregson, 21, who lives across the road, witnessed paramedics battling to save Mrs Southern.

He said: ‘It’s an utter tragedy. She was a lovely woman, quite quiet and they had two young daughters.

‘I woke up early yesterday to blue flashing lights in my room shortly before 7am. At first I didn’t see much because the firemen were jacking up the car so they could get her out.

‘They were working quickly and got her out fast. Then the paramedics were doing CPR on her while she was on the floor. They put her on a stretcher with an oxygen mask.’