FAMILY and friends of a former Redditch woman who died the day before New Year's Eve have paid tribute to her.

Michelle Dalgarno, 39, died with her partner Clive Potts, 36, as they travelled back from a Christmas break.

The couple had visited Brugge, in Belgium, and Disneyland Paris, but on the way back from the trip were killed when their Audi A8 overturned in wintry conditions on a motorway near Calais.

Michelle's parents, Ernest and Rose Dalgarno, of Meadow Hill Crescent, Riverside, told the Advertiser they had planned to see their daughter - the youngest of three children - on her return to exchange their Christmas presents.

Michelle attended Abbey High School before studying a pre-nursing course at NEW College, where her tutor suggested she go on to train in north Staffordshire.

"She started in nursing a year later but before that she went to Windsor Castle and worked in the Queen's service," said Mr Dalgarno.

"She was at the Duchess of Windsor's funeral and took part in the rehearsals - she entered the chapel as Princess Anne and came out as Princess Alexandra."

Michelle went on to train as a nurse in north Staffordshire before working for the National Health Service.

Mr Dalgarno said she then worked in a Nuffield Private Hospital where she nursed football legend Sir Stanley Matthews, before moving into the private sector as a stoma care advisor, visiting surgeries and hospitals to advise them on types of equipment.

Mrs Dalgarno said they had been inundated with letters of tribute and were receiving more every day.

She added: "A lot of good has come out of this - people who have not spoken to each other for years are all coming together.

"She always said she wanted to stay young, and she got her wish."

A funeral will be held at the Ecumenical Centre on Friday at 2pm, and Mr Dalgarno said a remembrance service, tree planting and garden of remembrance was being planned in Staffordshire, where Michelle was a Cub leader.