The family of 24-year-old Martine Hearn have paid tribute to her following her death in a collision on the A371 near Shepton Mallet on Wednesday (January 4).

A former pupil at Kings School in Bruton and Strode College in Street, she had been living in Bruton and according to her social media accounts had been working at Peter Green in Evercreech.

In the statement, her family paid tribute to Martine and the emergency services who battled to save her, and have asked for privacy as they process their grief and support her four-year-old son.

"Our family was devastated at the loss of our beautiful Martine," they said, in a statement issued through Avon and Somerset Police.

"She was 24 years old and full of life and love, and she leaves behind her four-year-old son. She will always be a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, partner, and mother.

"The world will be a darker place without the brightness of her smile.

"We would like to thank all of the emergency services and public who were at the scene and tried to help our beautiful Martine. We are incredibly grateful for your efforts."

A police spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the family during this incredibly difficult time, and they are being supported by one of our specially trained family liaison officers.

"We are appealing for witnesses who may have been in the area, or anyone with relevant dashcam footage, to contact 101 and quote reference 5223001826 to the call handler."