THE parents of a budding young Shaldon actress are marking 20 years since her death in a road accident.

Helen Kirk was just 24 when she died on Boxing Day when her car left the road in Dorset.

Since her death, her parents Roger and Annie have run the successful charity The Helen Foundation, in their daughter’s name, which provides arts education and activities in schools.

But as they face the 20th anniversary of the accident, Annie wants to highlight how drivers should be wary of over-the-counter and prescribed medications which can affect their skills.

She said: ‘Some prescription or over-the-counter drugs like Codeine, antihistamines and prescribed benzo-diazepam can have similar effects to drink and illegal drugs on people’s attention and driving skills.

‘We, Helen’s family, urge drivers of all ages to bear in mind that a drug they’ve simply used to chase off a migraine or headache could cost them, and others, their lives on busy Christmastime roads.’

Annie believes there is a lack of awareness and general ignorance of the potential dangers of such medications and the impact on driving.

Helen died when her car was involved in an accident on the A303 as she was heading to London to jet off on a snowboarding holiday with her partner Ben and brother Tom.

The car crossed the carriageway and collided with a car being driven in the opposite direction.

Annie says, with Helen in the driving seat, her two shocked passengers believe the crash was triggered by an unknown van-driver rushing past their rented too close.

Police investigators believed the van driver never stopped or slowed down, apparently, and was believed to fail to use the rear view mirror.

That driver was never found, nor was the exact cause of the accident proven.

As well as claiming Helen’s life, the accident left the oncoming driver, a father of two young children, badly injured.

Annie said: ‘Twenty years on, the day and the details of the day are burned into our collective memory for ever.

‘Our bright, beautiful daughter of 24 left our Shaldon home early after breakfast, and we never ever saw her again, alive.

‘Our family set up The Helen Foundation, an extraordinary youth arts charity for young people’s benefit in Teignbridge: and it still forges its successful and enriching path, led by us, Helen’s parents, and older brothers, with a team of family and friend trustees.

‘It’s hard work to keep the energy level up, but so worth the heartache and pressure to keep going, to know that Helen’s indomitable spirit is just that: indomitable.’

The Helen Foundation has helped thousands of children across Teignbridge access arts education, subsidising arts-based workshops in schools led by professional artists.

The charitable trust was set up with the aim of supporting the aspirations of young people in the arts who live in Teignbridge.

Before her death, Helen had worked in theatre-in-education in the UK and abroad which showed her first-hand the importance of stimulating children’s imaginations.