'She was my best friend'

Francesca Guy, of Sunnybank Road, died after being hit by a Ford Focus at the junction of Himley Road and Milking Bank on Saturday morning (September 8). She was just 22.

Francesca was walking home when she was struck.

The former Bishops Milner Catholic School student suffered serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at Russells Hall Hospital on Saturday night.

She was due to return to the Walsall campus of Wolverhampton University next month to resume her special needs nursing studies.

Francesca had fulfilled her lifelong ambition of becoming a care worker.

After coming home from her shifts, she regularly looked after her 20-year-old sister Rebbeca, who has learning difficulties.

Distraught mum Anita spoke of her anguish at losing her caring daughter.

She said: "We're absolutely devastated. We're heartbroken, I just want her back.

"Francesca was a very, very caring person. She always wanted to be a nurse from when she was a little girl.

"She was a very, very kind person.

"She would do anything for anybody. Nothing was too much trouble for her.

"Francesca would care for Rebbeca after being at work. She would go everywhere with her.

"She was my best friend. She told me everything and was really, really popular and had a lot of friends of her own."

Francesca's funeral will take place next Wednesday (September 19) at St Peter's Church, Kent Street, Gornal, at 2.30pm. It will be followed by a service at Lower Gornal Crematorium.

She also leaves behind two brothers, Russell, 26, and Jonathan, 23, and dad Mick.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened at 10.23am.

Anyone with any information is urged to call Dudley Road Policing Unit on 0845 113 5000.