TRIBUTES have been paid to a graduate who died in a car crash before she could receive her degree.

Former Gorse Covert resident Hazel Parker, aged 22, had just been awarded a 2:1 degree in sports coaching from Oxford Brooks university but her accolade will now be received by family in a ceremony this month.

Miss Parker died when her car was in collision with another vehicle on an Oxfordshire road on August 22.

Her family say they are extremely proud of the keen Liverpool fan who was awarded for her bravery aged 17 when she saved the life of a woman who had fallen onto a railway line.

She lived in Berkshire with her father, stepmother and other family members after moving to the county in her early teens. But with a home still in the area and family in the town they still had a lot of links with Warrington.

Her granddad Kenneth Parker, who lives in Cinammon Brow, said the former Gorse Covert Primary School and Birchwood High School pupil will be sorely missed by all those who knew her. He said: "I am so proud of everything she did and everybody misses her. We had only just been down to see them before this happened."

While completing her degree Miss Parker also kept up her love for the armed forces, which started as a member of the Birchwood Army Cadets. She had gone on to become an army cadet leader teaching youngsters after receiving one of the top accolades by becoming a Lord Lieutentant cadet.

Mr Parker added: "She wanted to join the Army but could not as she had asthma. She was quite sporty though and enjoyed playing football and had been a member of the Warriors Swimming Club before she moved."

Her funeral was held last week in Berkshire.