A Norwich woman who died in a car crash on the A47 was has been described as a 'most loving, kind-hearted and devoted mother to her three children' by one friend who revealed that she had wanted to train as a midwife.

Catherine Piercy - known to her friends as Kate - was driving a red Citroen Berlingo which hit a tree after going off the dual carriageway at Dereham at about midday on Sunday.

The front seat passenger was her husband - who has not yet been named but is in his late 30s - and he suffered serious head injuries and multiple fractures. He is in a critical but comfortable condition in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Their 10-year-old son - who was a back seat passenger - suffered serious head injuries and is in a comfortable and stable condition at Addenbrooke's.

Their two other children - a 12-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy - were also rear seat passengers and received slight injuries and were treated at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital before being released.

Devastated friends of the 36-year-old from Dereham Road have come together to express their sadness at her death and pay emotional tributes to her.

Brigid Hayward, 48, a mother-of-one from Bintree, near Reepham, set up the Norwich Nappucino group which promoted the use of cloth nappies, and which was later taken over by Mrs Piercy.

She said: 'She helped so many mothers with breast feeding problems at the Nappucino and when I decided I wanted to move on she took on the group and enabled it to carry on - if it hadn't been for Kate it wouldn't have.

'She really was a lovely, lovely mother. She was wonderful and set such a good example and her children are just lovely - it's just tragic. She also ran a play group. She did so much to help people and was so obliging and kind and such a lovely, lovely girl.'

Another friend Pat McDermott said: ' I was just one of the very many people privileged to call her a friend.

'She was a most loving, kind-hearted and devoted mother to her three children. At our toddler group we welcomed each baby as he/she came along and watched them grow into lovely children under Kate's care and guidance - a couple of years ago she joined our team running the group.

'Kate was always smiling, always laughing, and was a very good listener, She had a very kind heart and was intending to train as a midwife - I cannot think of anybody better suited; she would have done an excellent job.

'She has touched so many lives with her generosity and friendship, and with her laughter made the world a much better place.'

Mrs Piercy, who had also portrayed a Tudor maid at Kentwell Hall, was said to be the driving force of the Norwich Nappucino group which meets at St Albans Hall, Grove Road, Norwich on the second Thursday of every month.

The February Nappucino event has been cancelled as a mark of respect to Mrs Piercy and a 'mega March Nappucino' is being planned in honour of her on Thursday, March 10.

Messages on the Nappy Days website include one from Cherie Walpole which reads: 'Such a wonderful and kind lady that made you feel very welcome at Nappucino Group - sadly missed.'

An inquest held in Norwich was opened into Mrs Piercy's death on Thursday. The car was travelling in the Swaffham bound lane and just before the slip road to the A1075 and the Tesco store it appeared to swerve and then went off the road and hit the tree. No other vehicles were involved.

Anyone with information about the crash should contact PC Ian Thexton on 0845 456 4567.

Would you like to pay tribute to a loved one? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk