Tributes were paid today to a 'popular and bubbly' teenager killed in a horrific crash on the A47.

Ellie Tweed, 18, of Hemsby, was one of five young women believed to have been returning from Halloween celebrations at about 5.30am on Tuesday when the car they were travelling in collided with a lorry parked in a layby and burst into flames.

Police have confirmed that Ellie died at the scene of the crash at North Burlingham, near Acle.

Since the crash social networking websites have been flooded with heartfelt messages from the teenager's friends who are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.

Police said four women in the black Fiat Punto, all in their late teens and from the local area, were taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for treatment.

Three remain there in a serious but stable condition. The fourth was transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where she is in a critical but stable condition.

Ellie was pictured in December 2007 when she was among a group of young entrepreneurs heading to New York following their success in a schools enterprise contest.

The team from Caister High School took part in the Make Your Mark challenge by submitting an innovative electrical sensor called E Sense, a gadget designed to monitor energy use in the home highlighting areas of wastage and spending.

George Denby, headteacher at Caister High School, where Ellie was a pupil until leaving two years ago, paid tribute to the teenager who was on the school council and helped with fundraising.

'She was a very popular girl with a very bubbly personality,' he said.

'She had a lot of friends and she was always up for a challenge. Every year the school council holds a number of fundraising events and she was actively engaged in that.

'She left a lasting impression on the school and will certainly be missed by all the staff who taught her and her friends. It is just a total tragedy.'

Following the crash the road was closed for several hours while an investigation got underway and damage to the road surface was repaired.

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or stopped at the scene afterwards, to call Pc Ian Thexton at Norfolk Police's serious collision investigation team on 101.