Tributes have been paid to two women who died in a car crash when returning home from their bingo group.

Jean Malone, 76, and Mary Davis, 66, were travelling home on the A41 from the bingo group they organised in Hendon when their Nissan Micra hit a van in May.

Ms Malone, from Hendon, had two grandchildren aged 21 and 25 and was mother to three children, who called her “protective” of her family.

They said: “Mum was someone who was always smartly dressed and enjoyed an active social life, attending local community and church groups.

“She was a people’s person and offered family, friends and neighbours a shoulder to cry on, she would listen to their problems and offered help whenever she could.”

Mother-of-four Ms Davis moved from Cricklewood to Stoke Mandeville six years ago, and was anticipating the birth of her sixth grandchild later this year.

Daughter Pam said: “She was a very selfless woman - she would do anything for anybody, had lots of friends and everybody loved her - a lot of people thought of her as a second mum.

“Even when we were growing up in London she was the mum of the community.”

The two ladies met at a bingo group for pensioners and would return to Hendon every Sunday to run the club.

Ms Davis’ son Peter said: “That shows the character of my Mum and Jean.

"They had both moved out of the area but they cared so much about the people that they carried on the bingo - this was their church on a Sunday.

“They were doing what they loved.”

A 17-year-old, arrested on suspicion of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, has been released on police bail.