Player's tribute to crash victim

Miss Gourlay died in hospital in Newcastle

Family and friends have paid tribute to a 24-year-old Carlisle woman who died in a crash on the A66 in Cumbria.

Kelly Gourlay was in a Peugeot 306 which collided with a Land Rover near Corby Hill crossroads on Friday. She died in hospital on Monday.

Her parents and brother said they were proud of the "unsurpassed loyalty and friendship" she showed.

Her boyfriend - Carlisle United player Peter Murphy - described Miss Gourlay as "his angel".

'Best friend'

Miss Gourlay was taken by air ambulance to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, where she later died.

The 41-year-old driver of the Land Rover suffered minor injuries.

In a statement released through Cumbria Police, her family said: "Kelly loved helping others, from her work with children at Robert Ferguson School to her more recent nursing career.

"Kelly had a very large circle of friends but close friends experienced an unsurpassed loyalty and friendship from her.

"From our point of view she was not just a daughter but her mam's best friend."

Mr Murphy added: "Everyone that met you was in awe of your beauty and how much love you had to give.

"I am so lucky that you gave it to me for what was too short a time. You wanted everything to be perfect and never realised you were yourself.

"Heaven will be a better place with you in it.

"My Angel Kelly."

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