A pensioner killed in a crash in Chiswick on Tuesday (February 10) has been formally named as Anne Naysmith, a homeless former concert pianist who became somewhat of a local celebrity.

Tributes have flooded in for the 78-year-old "local institution", who lived in a car in Prebend Gardens, Chiswick, and later on the streets after falling on hard times.

Ms Naysmith was a talented pianist who was an alumnus of the Royal Academy of Music. She reportedly ran into financial difficulties in the late '70s and was evicted from her home in Prebend Gardens.

She continued to live outside her old lodgings, in a Ford Consul, until that was removed in 2002 when she then began sleeping on the street near Stamford Brook tube station, creating a shelter and a small garden which she lovingly tended.

She became a popular local character, affectionately described as the "rag lady" or "car lady" of Chiswick.

Anne Naysmith's old car, which was towed away in 2002

After years of braving the cold and pollution, she met her end in a collision with an HGV in Chiswick High Road, near the junction with Homefield Road, at around 1am on Tuesday. The driver stopped at the scene and nobody has been arrested in connection with the crash.

The Royal Academy was among the first to pay its respects, tweeting: "Sad news: #piano #alum Anne Naysmith – former concert artist, cherished Chiswick character – died last night."

UPDATE: Shopkeepers asked to display rose in tribute to 'rag lady of Chiswick'

Chiswick councillor John Todd described her as a "real character in every sense", saying she had refused all offers of help over the years.

"Why she chose to adopt such a harsh life style is unclear," he said, "but she never moaned or criticised. She never sought any form of help either. I saw her all over London."

Many more paid tribute to Ms Naysmith via local forum ChiswickW4.com. One well-wisher even posted a link to an affectionate YouTube song titled 'Mrs Naysmith the rag lady of Chiswick' and residents of Welstead Way offered to tend flowers left in her memory beside the Stamford Brook car park.

Video Loading

Ms Naysmith often slept in the doorway of the Speakeasy School of English, in Chiswick Road, according to school director Nick Jenkins. He described her as a feisty but well-loved character and said she would be sorely missed.

"She would come late and night and had usually gone by the time we arrived in the morning," he added. "I joked that she was like our security guard because she would sleep with her trolley between her and the door, and there was no getting past her.

"She was a feisty character who never accepted any help but was always polite.

"Once a student offered her a £5 note and she took it and ripped it up in front of them. You couldn't even offer her a cup of tea.

"She was a local institution in Chiswick. Everyone thought her lifestyle and the cold would kill her off but that wasn't the case."

Police are still trying to trace Ms Naysmith's next of kin and have asked anyone with information about her family, or any witnesses, to call 020 8543 5157.