Tributes have today been paid to a Norwich woman who was the 'life and soul of the party' despite having had to overcome the brain damage she sustained when she was knocked down as a child.

Sian Chatland, 33, was just three-years-old when she was hit by a car in Half Mile Road, near St Catherine's Church, and suffered a fractured skull.

She went into a coma following the crash in 1985 and suffered brain damage but despite her injuries managed to maintain an essentially normal life.

As well as her brain damage she was also diagnosed with diabetes just before her 10th birthday but again she tried not to let it affect her too much.

Miss Chatland, who loved visiting her family and socialising, was hugely popular with family and friends who have today described her as being 'the life and soul of the party' who was 'loved by everyone'.

The tributes come following an inquest into the death of the former Sprowston High School and Blyth Jex pupil held in Norwich earlier this month.

It heard Miss Chatland, who was found at her Pockthorpe Gate home in Norwich on September 1 last year, suffered a miscarriage in 2014.

Assistant coroner, Nicholas Holroyd, gave a narrative conclusion that she died as a result of excessive administration of medication.

Today, her mother Lesley, 62, from Panxworth, said: 'She was just beautiful. I know everyone says that about their daughter, but she just had the most amazing smile. She's just so missed. There's a big gaping hole. Wherever she went she lit up the room.'

Her partner Alan McDowell, 65, said: 'Sian had a lovely, loud and very contagious laugh. Once Sian was laughing, everyone was laughing.'

There was 'not an empty seat in the house' at a funeral service for Miss Chatland at St Mary's Church in Sprowston in September last year.

Her mum said: 'There was people who hadn't seen her for years. She made such an impact with these people.'

Miss Chatland had a coffin sprayed in her favourite colour pink with sparkles on it, which was decorated by family friend Jonny Phillips.

Her sister Victoria Chatland, 35, who lives off Sprowston Road, said: 'It was one of a kind like she was.

'She was the life and soul of the party. Everyone loved her who came into contact with her - they just adored her.'

The mother of three girls and a stepson, who is due to give birth to her fourth child in October, lost a previous child after she started to bleed on the day of Miss Chatland's funeral last year.

She insists her unborn baby boy has been 'sent' as a gift from her sister who she said had a very special bond with her eldest daughter Keely, 13.

Miss Chatland's foster sister Rebecca Ames, 34, from Sprowston, said: 'She was just such a funny person. She was just so loved by so many people.'

Bubbly Sian always put family and friends first

James Bulman, 29, Miss Chatland's brother, said: 'Sian was sincere and genuine and whilst her diabetes and brain damage made her stubborn and awkward at times, she would always put her family and friends first.

'Christmas' will never be the same without her - she would see the first Christmas advert as her cue to put the Christmas tree up and her Christmas shopping would start at the end of August, with the presents pre wrapped in her living room until Christmas day.'

He added: 'Sian was also loving and caring, but her diabetes did have an impact on her life and for people who do not understand the implications of type 1 diabetes may misinterpret poor management of her illness as depressive or erratic, but this is not who she was.

'She is sorely missed and she will always be remembered for the bubbly person she was.

Suzanne Metcalf, 34, a close friend of Miss Chatland, said: 'Sian was an amazing friend, always full of life and knew how to put a smile on my face. She was always up for a laugh. I miss her wicked laugh, her silly voices and her bubbly personality. I know Sian was going through a bad patch and understand how she felt but I also know, that she would still wish to be here with family and close friends. I feel like I've lost my right arm.'