The family of a French cyclist killed as she was riding along the A23 to an EDO protest have paid tribute to her.

Marie Vesco, who was a week away from her 20th birthday when she died at the roadside, was described by her family as “a brilliant pupil.”

In a statement, the family said: “Her intellectual ability did not prevent her from dreaming and hoping for a better world. She was an idealist who wanted to change the world, by raising awareness about and fighting against injustices such as conflicts, poverty and wasting resources.

“What she liked about England was that it was the country of freedom of expression and she soon found friends who shared her vision of the world and a boyfriend she loved and who loved her. She always led her battles with full respect for others and the laws of the country.

“She died during the 'Week of Peace'.”

An inquest into Miss Vesco's death, held at Haywards Heath Town Hall, was told the student died after a collision involving two vehicles on the southbound carriageway at the Hickstead turnoff near Burgess Hill on June 4 last year.

A politics student at London Metropolitan University, she was a keen cyclist and was making her way from London to Brighton to take part in a protest against the weapons parts manufacturer EDO.

The inquest was told how the group of cyclists Miss Vesco was travelling with had tried to keep to cycle paths but had managed to get on the A23 due to poor signage.

She was hit by two cars as the group passed a slip road.

Recording a narrative verdict, West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield said: “Marie Vesco was in collision with a Ford Galaxy motor vehicle whilst cycling south on A23 to Brighton.

“This caused her to fall to the ground. She was then struck by a Ford Mondeo motor vehicle. As a result she sustained fatal injuries. It would appear that either singularly or jointly, Marie Vesco and the drivers of the motor vehicles have misjudged the others’ intended path.”