An 18-year-old woman has died after the car she was driving was involved in a collision with a lorry on a main road in north Shropshire.

Sophie Rowlands, from the Pontesbury area near Shrewsbury, suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene of the smash, which happened on the A53 just south of Shawbury just after 5pm yesterday, despite attempts to save her.

Members of the public, helped by a 999 call handler giving resuscitation advice, tried to help Miss Rowlands, who was driving a Vauxhall Corsa in the direction of the village.

She was pronounced dead shortly after ambulance crews arrived.

The driver of the heavy goods vehicle, travelling in the opposite direction, was uninjured but shaken and was checked over by ambulance staff.

The crash led to delays for rush hour motorists travelling between Shrewsbury and north Shropshire.

Police shut the road for more than 13 hours for investigations to take place and because of a diesel spillage. It reopened just after 6.30am today.

Miss Rowlands was employed as a domiciliary care worker with Shrewsbury-based Coverage Care Services and was on her way to the home of an elderly woman in Shawbury when the collision happened.

Today David Coull, chief executive of the care firm, paid tribute to Miss Rowlands, who joined the organisation last month.

He said: “She was a massively enthusiastic young lady who had an insatiable appetite for training and was looking forward to starting her NVQ next month after her formal induction period.

“She had worked briefly in child care but appeared interested in a career with older people. She touched a lot of lives in a very short space of time and will be greatly missed by colleagues and service users alike.”

Inspector Martyn Barnes, from West Mercia Police, said: “An 18 year old travelling in the Vauxhall Corsa was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed.”

John Ellery, the coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, has been informed and a post mortem examination is to be carried out.

Anybody who saw the incident is asked to contact officers on 0300 333 3000.