THE mother of London bus bomb victim Marie Hartley has died just three months after her grieving husband.

Barbara Targett, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, died in the Christie Hospital, Manchester, on Saturday at the age of 59.

She and her husband John never recovered from the death of Marie in the 7/7 terrorist bombings in 2005.

Mum-of-two Marie, 34, who lived on White Ash Lane, Oswaldtwistle, was travelling on the Number 30 bus which was blown up in Tavistock Square.

She had just sent a text message to tell work pals at Hambledon Studios in Altham that she was safe after escaping the Tube bombings minutes earlier.

Barbara’s death is another savage blow to her policeman son Ian, who has lost his sister and both his parents in the space of two-and-a-half years.

He said: "I am devastated. To lose my sister in the way she died, then my dad, then my mum, is just so tragic."

He explained that Barbara had been diagnosed with cancer before John died, also from cancer, last November.

She survived a stem cell transplant and seemed to be on the mend until she caught an infection and died unexpectedly.

Ian said: "The whole family has been through so much. Both my parents died of cancer but I will always believe the stress they were under played a part. In that sense they too were victims of the bombers.

"Mum was so positive. She was a rock for the whole family. She always had a smile on her face and was looking forward to getting better and enjoying the rest of her life."

He added that the couple’s three grandchildren were distraught.

Barbara and John had been married for 38 years.

At the time of John’s death Ian said: "A part of him died with Marie. It affected all the family but it hit him particularly hard. It might have been the cancer that killed him but he had a broken heart. He could never get his head around Marie’s death."

John, 61, had joined other bereaved families in calling for a public inquiry into the bombings amid claims that the security sources failed to act on tip-offs which could have prevented the tragedy.

Barbara had been employed at Guardhall Security, Accrington, as a secretary.

She also formerly worked for Humber Fabrics and for many years for the Conservative Party at the old Conservative Club in Cannon Street, Accrington.

Her hobbies included reading, holidays, cooking and languages.

She also leaves daughter-in-law Debbie Targett, son-in-law David Hartley, grandchildren Phelix, seven, Liam, 10, and Adan, four, sisters Susan and Pauline, many nephews and nieces and their beloved pet dog Eric.

Father Patrick Bourke was due to conduct a funeral service in St Mary’s RC Church, Oswaldtwistle, yesterday (Thurs-day) before cremation at Accrington.