PUPILS and staff at a Kidderminster school are mourning the death of a "key and valued" student following a fatal accident outside the ground of Wolverhampton Wand-erers Football Club.

The death of 16-year-old Kate Freeman has sent shockwaves throughout Holy Trinity School and headteacher, Yvonne Wilkinson, described the teenager from Bliss Gate, near Rock, as "a lovely sociable girl with great personality and charm".

She said Kate had been a pupil at the school for 12 years and contributed positively to every aspect of school life, including sport and drama.

She added she had been working hard towards her GCSEs when she died following a collision with a blue Daewoo Matiz car, on Sunday, and was expected to achieve "excellent results".

It is understood the teenager was on her way to watch Wolverhampton Wanderers' final game of the season against Sheffield United when she was knocked down while crossing Waterloo Road, in the city, near to the Molineux stadium.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' spokeswoman, Lorraine Hennessy, told the Shuttle/Times and News that the club was also mourning the schoolgirl's death.

"We heard about the accident on Sunday and hoped it wasn't too serious and when we found out it was one of our young supporters, we were all very upset," she said.

"The circumstances were absolutely tragic and our deepest condolences go to the family."

Speaking on behalf of the grieving school community, Mrs Wilkinson added: "It is with great sadness that Holy Trinity learnt of the death of Kate Freeman, a year 11 pupil."

She said: "Kate will be greatly missed by the whole school community and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

"She was a very talented girl ... and very much a key and valued member of our school."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman, Sarah Kirby, said police were investigating the accident, which happened at around 11am, and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

She said Kate had been taken to Selly Oak Hospital by air ambulance following the collision but was pronounced dead there. She had been suffering from serious head injuries.

An inquest is due to be opened into the teenager's death at Wolverhampton Coroner's Office in Waterloo Road tomorrow morning.

Witnesses and anyone with information about the accident should contact officers at the Road Policing Unit at Bilston Street in Wolverhampton on 0845 1135000.