Friends of a beautiful 22-year-old who died nearly two weeks after a car crash are raising money in her memory.

Lisa Wallace, 41, and her niece Amy, 26, are holding the event at Bar Chocolate on Saturday to celebrate the life of popular Nicole Parnell.

The carer, from Grove Lane in Hunton, suffered serious head injuries when her car hit a wall at the junction of Lug Horse Lane and Hunton Hill.

She died at King’s College Hospital in London in the early hours of December 30, 11 days later, after her life support machine was switched off.

Nicole’s heartbroken mum Sharon, 49, paid tribute to her “mad, crazy and stunningly beautiful” daughter who she said was the life and soul of the party.

She added: “It is lovely that our friends are rallying around.”

On Saturday, some 500 people turned out to set off lanterns in Nicole’s memory, near the accident spot.

Organisers were overwhelmed when so many people attended, after the word spread.

Sharon said: “It was amazing and really beautiful. It started out with some of her friends on Facebook but when we got there to light the first lantern there were hundreds and hundreds of people.

"We were overwhelmed.”

"She was such a social butterfly and was everyone’s friend" - Lisa Wallace

The event raised more than £400 in collections on the night, which will go towards paying the fare for Nicole’s close friend, Sarah Mckeown, to come back from Australia for the funeral.

Family friend Lisa Newman has also put in £750.

Now Lisa Wallace and niece Amy are trying to raise money to go towards her funeral, with an evening of music, dancing and fundraising from 6pm to 10pm at the Market Buildings nightspot.

“My niece is her age so I’m seeing this from her mum’s point of view and my heart just went out to her family.

Mrs Wallace of Owletts Close, told the Kent Messenger: “It was dreadful to hear about Nicole. She was such a social butterfly and was everyone’s friend.

“No one has asked us to do this but we just want to help her family in their time of need and to contribute towards funeral costs or other expenses - after all they are helping other families with their decision to allow her to be an organ donor.”

“It will be a celebration of her life.”

The pair are hoping to sell around 400 tickets for the evening which will include a raffle of prizes donated by local business, including a canvas photograph of Nicole.

It comes the day after an inquest into her death was opened at Archbishop's Palace. It was adjourned until March 17.

Tickets cost £10 on the door or via a Facebook page called Nicole’s Party and Fundraiser.