TRIBUTES have been paid to a 17-year-old York College student who died in a crash in North Yorkshire.

Kirsty Findlay, 17, was a front-seat passenger in a Ford Fiesta when the accident happened on the A170, near Allerston, on Friday.

Kirsty’s mother, Fiona Findlay, 46, who was travelling in the back of the car, was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, with “significant leg injuries”.

A 19-year-old man who was driving the car was sent home after treatment at Scarborough Hospital.

Kirsty, of Ebberston, near Pickering, was coming to the end of her first year studying to become a beautician at York College. Jayne Laverick, head of hair and beauty at York College, said students and staff were shocked and deeply upset.

She said: “She was such a lovely girl and a totally committed student. Kirsty was eager to progress her career in the beauty industry and had a mature approach to her work.

“Everyone in the department will miss her smile. Our thoughts and prayers go to Kirsty’s family at this very difficult time.”

Kirsty had been due to help backstage making up the young performers at the Malton and Norton's Got Talent charity event on Friday.

Norton Mayor Di Keal, who is organising the show, said: “My heart goes out to Kirsty’s family. This is such an awful thing to have happened."

Kirsty had previously been a pupil at Lady Lumley’s School in Pickering. Her older brother left the school a year before her, and her younger brother is still a pupil, but yesterday was at home with his father, Ashburn Findlay.

Jill Womack, pastoral manager at Lady Lumley’s, said pupils were devastated after learning of the tragedy.

She said: “We would like to send our condolences to the family.

“Kirsty was lovely, very bubbly, and very popular with all the students and staff. She had a great network of friends.

“We had an emergency meeting in school so we could support the staff and students. The mood is very quiet. We have pockets of students who are being supported by their tutors and staff in school.”

North Yorkshire Police have renewed calls for information about the accident on the A170 near Allerston, between Pickering and Scarborough, at 8.50am.

The 52-year-old driver of the Ford Transit van involved in the collision been bailed by police pending further inquiries.

Traffic Sergeant Pete Wood, of North Yorkshire Police, asked anyone with information about the accident to phone Gareth Gillard on 101 or email gareth.gilleard@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk