A SOUTH Molton couple were killed when their car collided with a lorry in icy conditions on the second day of the new year.

Stephen Potter, 45, and his wife Melanie, 35, died when their Vauxhall Corsa collided with a DAF lorry on the A361 North Devon Link Road.

The accident happened at Moortown Cross near Knowstone at 8.30am on Saturday morning.

Firefighters from South Molton, Witheridge and Barnstaple were called to the incident, together with police and paramedics, but the couple died at the scene.

A police spokesman said the families of Mr and Mrs Potter had decided not to issue a statement about the couple.

He said: "Both families say they have lost their best friends and ask that they be allowed to grieve in peace at this difficult time."

Tributes were paid to the pair on a social networking internet site, with friends describing them as a "caring, loving" couple.

One message posted by "grieving family" read: "We are the close family having to deal with the terrible loss of a loving couple who would help anybody and never ask for anything."

The writer blamed the accident on the freezing conditions at the time of the collision and claimed the route had been in need of gritting.

Police confirmed the road was icy at the time of the crash but Devon County Council said the road had been treated with the maximum amount of grit allowed in the hours before the accident.

The couple's local MP Nick Harvey said it was difficult to comment on the tragedy without knowing the full details but believed it was possible the road had iced over after being gritted.

He said: "That area is particularly exposed and, clearly, gritting is vital in these winter conditions, but if the council maintains that they have gritted to the maximum allowed, it's difficult to see what more could be done at this stage."

Saturday's accident happened on the same stretch where a young woman was left paraplegic following an ice-related crash around a year ago.

Mr Potter is understood to have served in the first Gulf War with the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment - since amalgamated to form The Rifles - and was noted by tribute-writers for his "great sense of humour".

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident to contact them on 08452 777444.