The grieving parents of a teenage pedestrian who died after a collision with a recovery truck have said they attach no blame to the driver.

Kerry Moss, 18, of Garden Close, Shoreham, was walking with a friend along a main road when it is believed she stepped out into the road at a crossing.

Her family say she may have been talking on her mobile phone at the time of the crash, which happened on the A27 in Offington, Worthing, on Friday night.

Kerry's distraught family have paid tribute to their "loving, caring and bubbly" daughter.

Her father Robert, 50, who is a painter and decorator, said: "I don't blame the driver for what happened - I feel sad for him because I know what he must be going through.

"He did not mean to kill my daughter but he did and he has to live with that just like we have to live with the pain of losing our beautiful daughter."

Kerry's mother Samantha, 38, who is a hairdresser, added: "I want everyone to see my daughter's pictures, to see how beautiful Kerry was."

Born at Southlands Hospital, Shoreham, Kerry attended Buckingham School and Kings Manor Community College in Shoreham before she became a hairdresser at the age of 16.

Colleagues at Synergy hairdressers in Portland Road, Worthing, closed the shop on Saturday as a mark of respect.

Floral tributes and candles marked the spot where the crash happened. Kerry's devastated sister Natasha, 12, and brother Ashley, 16, went to their schools yesterday to try to keep some normality to their lives.

Kerry's parents were celebrating Mr Moss's 50th birthday in Egypt when their daughter died. They were not scheduled to come home until today but were phoned by Kerry's grandparents Stella and Peter Scott and flew back early.

Mrs Moss said: "It was the worst journey of our lives. On the last stretch to Heathrow we looked at some photographs of Kerry. We just cried in each other's arms."

Mr Moss said: "I don't know how we are going to cope without her. I looked at Kerry's calendar pinned up in her bedroom. It is filled with notes about things she was going to do or hoped to do.

"I think about the birthdays, Christmas - all the events we will never enjoy with her again."

Kerry's boyfriend for the past year, Sean, arrived at the family home to pay his respects. He was in tears as he paid tribute to Kerry.

He said: "You could be having the worst day imaginable but she could have you laughing in seconds."

Mrs Moss said: "She was a real family girl, a real bubbly happy person, up for anything. She loved parties and having fun.

"She would burst through the door and lighten everything. Every day she would arrive home like a storm."

Her parents visited their daughter's body in a mortuary and kissed and stroked her face.

Fighting back tears, Mr Moss said: "But we did not say goodbye to her. We will never do that.

She will always be with us."

Witnesses to the crash should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070 999, quoting Operation Dartford.