A GIFTED lawyer, killed in a mystery car crash, was planning her dream wedding.

Nicola Trelford, aged 33, of Runcorn, was looking forward to celebrating her marriage next September.

"She was getting engaged next month," said her griefstricken dad, Derek.

"She would have had a big party.

"She was going to get married abroad but her nan is 84 and can't fly anymore so she had picked a place in England."

She met her fiance, Robert, who works on the London stock market, at Plymouth University and they had spent the past 12 years together.

Hundreds of Nicola's friends and work colleagues travelled from London, Guernsey, Birmingham and all over the country to join her family at her funeral in St Edward's RC Church, Runcorn, on Thursday.

A convoy of 35 cars and two minibuses followed her courtege to Allerton cemetery, where she was buried with her grandad.

"She was the best daughter we could ever hope for," said her parents, Joan and Derek, who have received more than 150 cards.

"Her infectious giggle endeared her to everyone.

"Nicola touched the lives of all she met."

Generous donations are still coming in for Alder Hey Hospital, in her memory.

Nicola wanted to join the Royal Navy and fly planes but specialised instead in maritime law.

She completed 18 accountancy exams and worked for the NHS and Lawrence Jones in London.

Nicola recently became an associate at Hill Dickinson in Liverpool.

Police are still investigating her fatal collision on the A5126 Weston link road, near the exit slip road to the Weston Expressway, where her blue Alfa Romeo 156 hit a tree.

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