A family has told of their grief following the death of their 'feisty, loveable girl' who was just days away from celebrating her birthday.

Relatives of Simmone Hedges, 19, known as Minnie, told the Gazette how the family was informed by police that Miss Hedges had been found with serious injuries, consistent with being struck by a car, in The Larches in Hillingdon.

Aunt, Tricia Reid, 34, said: "The first few days I was very devastated.

"We were all in shock. I just found it really hard to cope to be honest.

"It's such a shame that something like this could happen to someone so young and loveable."

A passer-by discovered Miss Hedges, a former Uxbridge High School pupil of Brampton Close, Hillingdon, lying in the middle of the road just before 2am on November 21.

The teenager was initially taken to Hillingdon Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead where she died five days later.

It is the second tragedy to hit the family in a little over a month.

Miss Hedges' great grand-mother died recently.

This Saturday, Miss Hedges, who collected dolphin keepsakes, should have been celebrating her 20th birth-day.

Grandfather Edward Hedges, 75, said: "She was loved by everyone.

She had her own agenda for life and would not be moved from that.

"She would say if she felt someone was doing wrong. I've got some lovely granddaughters but she was one of my favourites. She was a lovely girl."

Her shocked family must now face their first Christmas without her, but have planned to get together and share their memories.

Mrs Reid said: "She came to visit me and my family in the summer. It was my son's school fete and she came to spend the day and watch him do country dancing.

"It was lovely. It is my last memory of her so I suppose it's the one I treasure now."

The mother-of-two told of how Miss Hedges, who has one brother, Tim, 21, and two half-brothers, Elliot, 25, and Oliver, 23, was so good with her autistic cousin Fiona, 12.

She said: "They had such a bond. It was like they were sisters.

"They were very close. Her (Miss Hedges') mum has her good days and bad and her brothers are feeling the effects of the situation. They are devastated with their loss."

Miss Hedges' mother, Denise Price, 40, from Cowley, added: "She was a lovely girl. I'm going to miss her very much."