Family mourns mother and daughter who died in crash

Curtis LancasterSouth of England
News imageFamily handout Mary Michelle Devine right in a white dress in a green outdoor area and Theia left in a play area smiling at the camera. She is a blond haired girl wearing a purple t-shirt with a cartoon character on.Family handout
Mary Michelle Devine and her seven-year-old daughter Theia died in a crash

A family has said it is mourning "the most beautiful two souls you could ever meet" after a mother and daughter died in a crash.

Mary Michelle Devine, known as Michelle, and her seven-year-old daughter Theia, both from Portsmouth, were in a red Ford Fiesta that left the A3, just south of the Hindhead Tunnel in Hampshire at about 10:00 GMT on Thursday.

The pair were pronounced dead at the scene and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

In a tribute their family said: "They both had so much personality and so many loved ones, our hearts are broken."

News imageFamily handout Michelle left, Theia as a baby in the middle and Theia's dad Edward Papworth on the right they are sat inside.Family handout
Mary Michelle Devine with Theia and Theia's dad Edward Papworth

They added: "Our family mourn the most beautiful two souls you could ever meet.

"Our beautiful, beloved little Theia who had so much confidence and life in her and our crazy Michelle who was vibrant and had a heart of gold.

"We truly love them and will miss them everyday."