The mother of a teenager killed in a hit and run accident has paid tribute to her beautiful daughter.

Devastated Cecilia spoke about the moment she learned Alessia Boschiazzo was in hospital after a horrific accident in Croydon.

"I cannot believe I have lost my daughter, she was here one day and now she is gone. She was in hospital with her eyes closed and I just wanted to say goodbye," she said.

"Just before the accident, I rang her and she said she was in Croydon and she was going on to meet some friends. I said to her, ‘be careful baby.’ She said she would and I told her I loved her, I always told her I loved her all the time."

She spoke about the moment the police came to her home to tell her that Alessia was in hospital.

“When they drove us to the hospital, we knew it was a bad accident. I was just waiting for a miracle to happen.”

She said her treasured daughter was always cheerful.

“She was a very happy girl, she enjoyed every moment of her life. She had something very special to give to other people.

“The house is so empty now, I miss my daughter so much. She will always be with me, I will always remember her.

“She was very popular, she never had arguments with friends. They all called me mum and we would often have 10 or 12 of them around here sleeping over in the living room and the bedroom.

“She loved to dance, it was her life. Even when she was a baby just a few months old she would move to the music.”

Yesterday, hundreds of the popular teenager's friends and family celebrated her life at St Teresa's Church in Morden.

Classmates of the Ursuline High School student formed an honour guard around her coffin as hundreds of mourners bid their final farewells.

Her mother Cecilia said she wanted to give her heartfelt thanks to everyone who had supported her and her husband Aldo and 18-year-old daughter Angela over the weeks since Alessia’s death.

Aldo said: “Alessia's death is being felt by everyone who knew her, hundreds of people. Life will never be the same again for us.”