THE heartbroken family of a 13-year-old girl who died in a crash have paid tribute to her life.

Ingrid Messenger lost her life in a three-vehicle collision outside The Crown Inn, Broadfield Common, near Ivegill, on Monday.

"Ingrid was a beautiful and happy sister, daughter, granddaughter, cousin and a friend to many," her family said in a statement.

"She was polite and full of vitality with a "give it a go" attitude and fun to be in the company of. She had a very bright future ahead of her.

"Her untimely passing has left us all devastated.

"She will remain a vivid image in our minds, be deeply loved in our hearts and desperately missed for evermore.”

Ingrid was a back-seat passenger in a silver Citroen car.

Her mum, who was driving, was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle with critical injuries, though is now said to be stable.

Ingrid's 14-year-old sister was also in the vehicle, as a front-seat passenger.

She suffered more minor injuries and was taken to Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary.

The other vehicles involved were a Landrover Defender and a Mercedes Sprinter van.

The Landrover driver, a man from west Cumbria, was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and perverting the course of justice. He has since been released under investigation.

Both he and the van driver, a 60-year-old from Lancashire, were treated at the scene for shock and minor injuries.

The crossroads was closed for over six hours as a result of the collision.