A YOUNG nurse from Cleobury Mortimer died in a car crash on her way to a Christmas shopping trip with her family.

Twenty-two-year-old Erin Morton, who was on her way to meet her parents in Ludlow when the fatal collision occurred, has been described by her grieving father, Gary Ward, as an "always happy, bubbly person".

He said his eldest daughter, who completed three years of nursing training earlier this year, was devoted to her husband, Darren, whom she met in Cleobury Mortimer at the age of 18.

"They doted on each other and were very much in love," said Mr Ward, "It was love at first sight."

Her grief-stricken mother, Margaret, said her family was completely devastated by the death of her daughter, who was loved by everyone.

"She was just a very loving and very giving person - she was so generous with her affections," she explained, "She was loved by everyone. I don't know anyone who disliked her. She was such a gentle person but so full of life as well. It just seems so unfair."

The couple, of Furlongs Road, Cleobury Mortimer, married two-and-a-half years ago.

Mrs Morton was a student at University College, Worcester, until June and was in the middle of a placement at Hereford Hospital when she died.

"At the time of the collision she was travelling from her home to meet up with her parents in Ludlow to go Christmas shopping in Chester," said Shropshire police spokesman, Richard Ewells.

He added Mrs Morton's red Vauxhall Corsa left the road, went up an embankment and struck a tree between 7.30am and 8am on Saturday, December 11, on the A4117 near to Snitton Crossroads, Clee Hill.

A post mortem was carried out on Tuesday, December 14, and an inquest was opened and adjourned the following day.