TRIBUTES have been paid to a councillor’s teenage daughter after she died suddenly at home just before Christmas.

The funeral of Lydia Cole, 18, from Coughton near Ross-on-Wye, is tomorrow (Thursday, January 11) at 1pm at St Michael’s and All Angels church in?Walford, and her family has requested that mourners wear bright and beautiful colours.

Her father, Walford Parish Councillor Simeon Cole, said former Monmouth Comprehensive School pupil Lydia had suffered from seizures in the past.

A family announcement about the college student’s death on her Facebook page said: “For anyone that doesn’t already know, it is with great sadness to say that Lydia passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday 20th December.

The post prompted numerous messages of support for Cllr Cole, his wife Sandra and Lydia’s two sisters and one brother.

Town councillor Hannah Lerego said: “Please take some comfort in knowing how very loved and missed Lydia will be just reading all these posts.”

Former schoolmate Bethan?Price-Nicholls added:?“Lydia was such an amazing friend she will be missed so much.”

A tribute to her was read out in Ross Market Place at the Boxing Day meet of the Ross Harriers Hunt, who the teenager had walked the puppies for.

She had worked for several years at Oak House Nursery in?Brampton Abbots before leaving to take up a college place, and was remembered for “her love of small children and her ability to listen to her trainer and learn from all the qualified staff.”

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said officers had been called to an address in Coughton around 5.15pm on?December 20 where the body of a woman was found.

An inquest into Lydia’s death has been opened and adjourned.