HUNDREDS of people have paid tribute to a popular schoolgirl who died after being hit by a car as she crossed a busy road. Eleanor Austin, aged, 15, had been seriously injured after the accident along the A405 in Bricket Wood, near the Chequers Lane junct

HUNDREDS of people have paid tribute to a popular schoolgirl who died after being hit by a car as she crossed a busy road.

Eleanor Austin, aged, 15, had been seriously injured after the accident along the A405 in Bricket Wood, near the Chequers Lane junction, on Friday afternoon, and tragically lost her fight for life in hospital on Monday night.

Eleanor, who lives in Bricket Wood, was initially taken to St Mary's Hospital in London before being transferred to Charing Cross Hospital, where she died.

Tributes have flooded into a group set up in memory of the Parmiter's School pupil on social networking site Facebook, which already has more than 2,600 members, attracting comments from those who knew her personally or were touched by her loss.

Eleanor's headmaster, Brian Coulshed, remembered her as a popular and successful student: "At Parmiter's, we were immensely saddened to be informed of the tragic death this week of one of our Year 11 students, Eleanor Austin.

"Eleanor was a very popular and successful student, who had many friends and who was very well-liked by her teachers.

"We are providing support for our grieving community and we much appreciate the sympathy the school has received, from so many people and organisations.

He added: "Our thoughts are with Eleanor's family and many friends and we will continue to provide support for them at this very difficult time."

Police are appealing for witnesses and information about Friday's accident, which happened at around 3.45pm and involved a silver Peugeot 207 which was travelling northbound towards St Albans.

Anyone with information should contact Pc Ian Breacher, a serious traffic incident investigator, via the non-emergency number on 0845 33 00 222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.