The parents of a nursery nurse who died after a car smash say they still imagine she might come through the door or ring up asking for a lift home.

Vicki Browne's family had kept a vigil at her bedside at a London hospital since the crash in Portland Road, Hove.

The 19-year-old, who lost both legs as a result of the accident, died last Tuesday.

Her grieving father George said: "We are still waiting for the door bell to ring and her to come in. Or even a phone call - she would often ring and say 'Dad, can you pick me up?'"

Vicki was the second person to die as a result of the smash on October 12.

Fellow nursery nurse Natalie McCabe, known as Flo, was also killed, while a third friend remains injured in hospital.

Vicki's family described her as a committed Christian who loved her work and enjoyed life.

Speaking at their home near Elm Grove, Brighton, Mr Browne said: "For such a young girl to be taken from us is tragic.

"She had her whole life ahead of her and filled her time helping other people and enjoying her life."

After attending Elm Grove Primary School, Vicki went to Varndean School before studying nursery nursing at college.

She worked at the Teddybears Day Nursery in Glebe Villas, Hove.

Mr Browne, 45, said: "She had always wanted to work with children. That was the career she chose.

"She had been at the nursery for about 18 months - she joined almost straight from college.

"Vicki worked with two to four-year-olds and really loved working with that age group.

"She was asked to take a course to work with children with special needs, which she had just started before the accident. She was also thinking of learning sign language."

Just before the crash, Vicki bought a bubble machine for the nursery, which her mother Tarnyar said they would like to hand over to the children.

Outside work, Vicki enjoyed a range of activities and had a wide circle of friends.

Mrs Browne, 44, said: "I used to call her 'The Wanderer' because she was hardly ever in. She was always doing something.

"She had a social life and went out clubbing with her friends but she didn't mind them knowing she was a Christian and that her beliefs came first.

"I'll particularly remember Vicki's wicked sense of humour. She would just come in and make us laugh doing a stupid little dance or saying things.

"Her favourite colour was pink and she recently bought a Tinkerbell pink lunchbox. Anything pink and fluffy she loved.

"She was so excited about the lunch box, she was showing us all. But one of the little girls at the nursery had the same lunch box - she wasn't impressed because she liked to be different."

Vicki's sister Gemma, 22, said: "I used to go on nights out with her and her friends.

"She would invite me along and always made sure I got home - she was the more sensible one."

Vicki had worked towards her Duke of Edinburgh Award and one of her main interests was the Girls' Brigade.

Mr Browne said: "At the age of five she started at Girls' Brigade. She worked her way up to be warrant officer and she helped teach younger brigaders and organise camps. This summer she went to Cornwall with the other brigaders.

"Her ambition was to travel and she was going to go to Hong Kong and China in August through the Girls' Brigade.

"But after all her hard work doing boot sales it was cancelled because of the Sars virus.

"She had plans to do it again the year after next though. In 2004 she hoped to go to Spain with her friends.

"She was well loved at the brigade and they were really upset when they heard the news."

No date has been set for the funeral yet but the family said it would be a celebration of Vicki's life - with everyone asked to wear pink.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving in relation to the crash.