A DISTRAUGHT Little Hulton father has paid tribute to his "vibrant fun-loving" daughter who was killed in a road accident.

Russ Thornton, 48, spoke out after 19-year-old Lynsey Thornton was killed after being in collision with a car as she crossed the road to get a taxi.

Pretty Lynsey, who was hoping to resume a career in hairdressing after leaving college, was thrown into the air by the impact and was dead on arrival at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The accident happened on Saturday after Lynsey was on her way home from a friend's house in Hulme where she had been listening to records.

A black cab stopped in Stretford Road to drop off two passengers and Lynsey and two other friends crossed the road to flag it down, but Lynsey stumbled as she crossed the road and was in collision with a grey Volvo 480.

Her father said: "Lynsey was bubbly, vibrant and a fun-loving girl among friends, but she was also a bit of a thinker when she was on her own.

"She didn't have a boyfriend as far as I was aware, but she may have been too shy to admit to me she had one.

"She had been temping after leaving college, but was hoping to get back into hairdressing.

"She may have been seen as a typical teenage daughter, but she was special to me. She was well-liked by her friends, she loved her family and she was full of smiles. I'm devastated at what's happened."

He added: "The first I heard about what happened was when police came knocking at my door at 7.15am."

Lynsey, who lived with her father in Coniston Avenue, Little Hulton, leaves a younger brother and two half-sisters.

Greater Manchester Police said the accident happened at 2.30am on Saturday.

Richard Davies, 24, of Stretford Road, Hulme, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He is also facing allegations of failing to stop after an accident, driving while disqualified, failing to report an accident and driving without insurance.

Two further men, aged 17 and 19, from Hulme have been arrested and released on police bail until the end of January pending further inquiries. TRAGIC TEENAGER: Road accident victim Lynsey Thornton COLLISION CAR: The Volvo 480 which was involved in the hit and run