A woman was stabbed in the heart before crashing her car, an inquest has heard.

Eleanor Barnfield, 47, died in hospital on 19 October after being found by paramedics with injuries to her chest following the crash on Coity Road, in Bridgend.

An inquest opening at Pontypridd Coroner's Court on Thursday heard a provisional cause of death for the housing association worker had been given as "stab wound to the trunk involving the heart".

Clifford Foster, 61, has previously appeared in court charged with her murder.

The coroner's office told the hearing: "South Wales Police received a report of a road traffic collision in Bridgend on 19 October.

"The driver, Eleanor Barnfield, was found to have a stab wound to her chest by attending paramedics."

The inquest heard Eleanor was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, where she later died.

Coroner Rachel Knight said it was necessary to open an inquest, but it would be "suspended pending the criminal investigation".

Foster was charged following a "significant policing operation" around Ger-y-Nant, where he lived, and which is managed by the Valleys to Coast housing association, where Barnfield worked.

Ger-y-Nant is a sheltered housing and retirement complex of 13 flats, has non-resident management staff and accepts new residents aged 60 or over, according to an online profile.

Eleanor was described by her family as the "most loving" mother and "bravest person in the world".

In a tribute issued through police at the time of her death, they said: "She meant everything to us and will be forever loved and missed deeply by her devoted family and friends.

"She was our rock."

Jo Oak, chief executive of Valleys to Coast, previously said the organisation was "devastated by the tragic death of our colleague".

"Eleanor was a much-valued member of the Valleys to Coast team, and her loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and worked alongside her.

"She made an important contribution to our organisation and to the communities we serve, and she will be remembered with great warmth and affection by her colleagues.