A "beautiful and kind-hearted' schoolgirl who was hit by a car as she was crossing a road in Sittingbourne died from a brain injury, an inquest heard.

Ellie Paine, a 16-year-old pupil at Highsted Grammar School in Sittingbourne, was seriously hurt on November 1 when she was struck by a silver Vauxhall Zafira.

The accident happened at 6.25pm as she was crossing the A2 Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne, at its junction with Murston Road.

She died three days later in Kings College Hospital in London while in a coma, with her family by her side, a coroner was told.

An inquest, opened at Archbishops Palace in Maidstone today, was adjourned until February 2.

Ellie's mother Jody Foster paid a heart-breaking tribute to her daughter on a Go Fund Me page set up in Ellie's memory.

She tells of the moment she washed and dried her daughter’s hair and painted her nails for the last time as she lay in her hospital bed.

Mrs Foster said: “We held her hand for days as our brave daughter battled to survive.

“We played her messages from friends and family, laughed about our stories, sang songs and prayed so very hard until the news came that the injuries were just too big to mend. No more fixing with cuddles, kisses, plasters or glue for my baby girl.

“So I bathed her, washed and dried her hair, we painted her nails and then dressed her ready for bed.

“We were then very blessed to spend some time with her as a family. Her siblings all by her side. We snuggled up in bed and I held her until she fell asleep in my arms for the last time. Her brother, dad and stepdad all there to hold her hands, too, while she passed.

“Our beautiful, kind-hearted, spirited, princess Ellie is now a beautiful angel in the sky.”

Ellie was in Year 11 at Highsted Grammar School in Highsted Road.

After the accident head teacher Anne Kelly paid tribute to the 'enthusiastic' and 'hard-working' pupil.

The Go Fund Me page set up by family friend Emma Grigg and has raised £2,500 which will be split between six charities.

Anyone with information about the accident should call the police on 01622 798538, quoting reference AH/CF/96/20 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk

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