TRIBUTES have been paid to an "inspirational" teenager killed in a road crash while on holiday in Normandy.

Family and friends of 16-year-old Rebecca McNie, of St Leonard's Road in Deal, have been sharing their memories of a "creative, caring and loving" girl.

Rebecca lost her life while on holiday with her parents Melanie and Simon, younger sister Katie and brother Alex. No other vehicles were involved in the accident and other family members escaped from the vehicle without serious injury.

The family have been inundated with messages of sympathy from people who knew Rebecca, from staff at her school, St Edmund's in Canterbury to members of the sporting and dance groups she was involved with and friends from abroad.

Her many schoolfriends have posted messages on a website noticeboard, To Bex's With Love, created by her boyfriend, where they describe a girl "everyone loved, who achieved so much" and brightened up their lives.

"She crammed so much into her 16 years and gave 100 per cent to everything she did," said Mr McNie. "Rebecca was the type of girl who would help anybody and got on so well with people of all ages."

"She was a talented sportswoman and dancer and was going to be returning to St Edmund's on a sports and performing arts scholarship."

Mr McNie said the family would be setting up a trust in her name to help young people who want to pursue a sporting or performing career.

"We know this is what she would have wanted because she was so passionate about these areas, " he added. "We will also be holding celebrations of her life at her school and in either Deal or Dover."

Mrs McNie said her daughter had no doubts about the path she wanted to follow after school and had set her sights on attending the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre.

"Rebecca had just finished her fifth summer school with the academy and was full of her plans for the future. She was always singing and dancing, had bags of personality and a great sense of humour. She was an inspiration to us all."

Rebecca's achievements were many and she regularly gained prizes for her sporting and performing skills.

She choreographed two major school productions, appeared on stage at Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre and excelled at sport with clubs like Deal Tri and Dover Lifeguards, Walmer Tennis Club and Deal Gym Club.

"She gave everything she had to her sports and performing arts and when we returned from living in Brazil she flourised in these areas," said Mrs McNie.

Rebecca's head teacher, Nicholas Ridley, described her as an "effervescent young lady who made a great mark on the school." He added: "She had a wide range of talents and great vitality.

"Rebecca was a good academic, a fine athlete and dancer and was popular with all generations within the school. Her death will leave a very great void."

Head of drama at St Edmund's, Richard Parsons, said Rebecca was a "vivacious, talented, popular and respected" student.

He added: "She was always so positive and nothing was ever too much trouble. Her death is a tragic loss not only to her family but the whole community of St Edmund's School."

Kevin Wood, who set up the Deal and Dover Academy for Performing Arts, where Rebecca was a founder member and produces The Marlowe Theatre pantomimes, said it was such a shock to everyone who had worked with her.

"Rebecca was a golden girl. Good at everything she did and a delight to be with," he added. "She stood out from the rest and would have had a brilliant career ahead of her. "

Rebecca's funeral is being held at St Edmund's School Chapel in Canterbury on Tuesday, August 17, at 1pm followed by a cremation service for the family.

Mr McNie said it will be family flowers only and anyone who would like to donate to the trust in Rebecca's name can do so through St Edmund's School Charity Fund.

KM-fm's Katy Murrells has this special report...