A "bubbly and bright" teenager who died after a car crash was just days away from taking her first GCSE exam.

Sam Cundall,16, was a back-seat passenger in a car that collided with a skip Tuesday. She died in Maidstone Hospital on Wednesday after sustaining multiple injuries.

Tributes to the teenager, who lived in Tovil, were paid by the head teacher of her school, NLL Academy Boughton Lane, Maidstone.

Jenny Usher said: “She was a lovely girl, bubbly and bright.

“It has upset a lot of people here. We only have a school of 280 students, so every student counts and it’s come as a huge shock.

“Sam was somebody who was always willing to give a helping hand. I watched her about a year ago putting together hampers for our OAPs party and she stayed after school to help.

“She was a great young person who was keen to help others.”

A book of condolence has been set up at the school and teachers are working with Sam’s family to make sure pupils are kept informed. Sam is also understood to have cousins who are pupils at the school.

An assembly is planned at Loose Baptist Church on Monday, and there are plans for a memorial to the lively pupil in the school grounds.

Tributes to Sam, who loved music and dance, have been left at the spot where the accident happened, outside the Murcott International Logistics Solutions warehouse on an industrial estate, off Beddow Way, Aylesford.

Flowers have been left on the skip along with a signed NLL shirt and cards.

One read: “You really don’t realise how much you meant to us. You had your whole life ahead of you. You could have gone so far.”

Another said: “In my heart you will never die. You are here with me every day until I meet you in person again.”

Grieving friends have also left messages for the 16-year-old on the internet site bebo.

One said: “Missing you. You will never be forgotten.”

Police have not released any further details about the tragedy. Anyone who witnessed the accident, which happened at 9.35pm, should call police 01622 798538.