THE grieving mother of a teenager knocked down by a car as she picked up a scarf from the road says her precious daughter's death has left a gap in the lives of all who knew her.

Caroline Freeman described her 16-year-old daughter, Kate - her only child - as "vivacious, caring, funny and witty, with a sense of humour that belied her years".

She said the sports-mad teenager, who was on her way to watch Wolverhampton Wanderers play when the accident happened a week ago last Sunday, had a smile that lit up the room and never stopped talking and singing.

A statement issued by Mrs Freeman and Kate's stepfather, Andrew Thomas, who was taking Kate to see Wolves' last league game of the season when she died, painted a tender picture of a lively, outgoing teenager, who loved shopping with her friends and spending time her family.

The Holy Trinity School, Kidderminster, pupil, who lived with her family in Bliss Gate near Rock, also enjoyed listening to music, eating out and walking her dog and had been single-mindedly focusing on her GCSEs.

She was looking forward to joining King Edward's Sixth Form College in September with a view to going to university before a career in law or surveying.

"Kate played the piano since she was four years old, she loved watching football and, with her stepfather, attended all the Wolves home games that she could," Mrs Freeman and Mr Thomas added, describing the girl as charmingly frank with a great sense of fair play.

"She also enjoyed cricket, rugby and athletics and could hold her own in any conversation about them."

They added the gifted student had a photo gallery of her favourite sportsmen, including Jonny Wilkinson, Steve Harmison, Joleon Lescott, Matt Murray and Thierry Henry, in the kitchen, and her favourite pastime was shopping - especially when there were bargains to be had.

"Kate was a beautiful daughter who was much loved by all her family and friends," they added, "She was a precious gift."

The inquest into the teenager's death was opened and adjourned at Wolverhampton Coroner's office on Friday.

Reading out a statement by Mrs Freeman, coroner Richard John Allen, said the teenager was crossing Waterloo Road in the city with her stepfather when she was knocked down.

"It appears that her scarf blew into the carriageway, she stopped to pick it up and was struck by a motor vehicle," he said, adding she was taken by air ambulance to Selly Oak Hospital but was pronounced dead at 6.30pm.

"Kate's sudden and unexpected death has come as a complete shock to all her family and friends and she'll be sadly missed by them."