An 18-year-old girl from Bath, who was killed in a road accident the day after picking up her A-level results, has been described by friends and family as someone "who made every day sparkle".

Charlotte Hecquet, who had completed her exams at Kingswood School this summer, died after her Ford Focus hit a tree and a stone wall at Lansdown Road.

The day before the accident near Lansdown Golf Club she had been celebrating after picking up her A-level results in art, English literature and politics.

A statement from her family paid tribute to a daughter who had left them with "beautiful memories".

It said: "Charlotte was the most wonderful girl to have entered our lives.

"She has touched so many people and has left us all with beautiful memories that we will treasure forever. We know that Charlotte would have been overwhelmed and touched by the love and support she has received from her friends.

"Thank you all for being there for her."

Charlotte, who lived with her parents and two brothers in Lansdown, was a talented artist and had recently had her work displayed in the city's Chapel Row Gallery.

She had been planning to take a gap year to go travelling with friends before going on to study art at university.

Kingswood head teacher Simon Morris sent his condolences to her family and said: "This is such a terrible tragedy.

"Charlotte was a wonderful young person who had just heard of her outstanding success at A-level. She had so much to look forward to.

"We are all in shock and our thoughts are with her family and friends at such a very difficult time."

Almost 300 people have joined a Facebook group in Charlotte's memory with many posting messages describing her as an "angel" who was always smiling.

One friend wrote: "Words cannot express how much you meant to me.

"My best friend, my partner in crime, you made every day sparkle and without you life will never be the same.

"I could fill up thousands of pages reminiscing on all of our epic adventures and maybe one day I will but for now I want you to know this: I love you, I miss you and ... I hope you know how happy you made everyone who had the pleasure of knowing you.

"We will see each other again some day, my angel, I'm sure of it."

Another described Charlotte as "an unfailingly friendly, lovely person who was always so nice to everyone around her."

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the accident, which happened at around 8.18pm last Friday, to come forward.

An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and two paramedics attended the incident, but Charlotte had suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the collision investigation unit on 0845 4567000.