A LASTING memorial is in place for a teenager who had “everything to live for”.

There is a bench at the cemetery in Ruabon dedicated to Katie Griffith, who died from head and leg injuries after being struck by a car on the A5 near Llangollen in December 2015.

An inquest in Ruthin on Friday concluded her death was accidental.

She left behind her mother Elaine Ansloos, 51, of Emral Brook Close, Ruabon, father Paul Griffith, brother Matthew, 21, and sister Maisie, 10.

Reflecting on her daughter’s life, Mrs Ansloos said her home has been much quieter since the loss of her “bubbly” daughter and that she had everything to look forward to.

“She was so lively. Out of the three children, she was the noisy one. It has been so much quieter since she has been gone,” she said.

“Katie was just six weeks past her 18th birthday and the whole world was opening up to her.

“She had passed her driving theory test and booked to take her practical one.

“Katie was a very capable young lady, forward thinking, reflective and in a lot of ways very mature for her age.

“She was a very caring and kind person and her family were everything to her as she was to us.

“Katie had everything to live for.”

Katie, a former pupil of Ysgol Rhiwabon and Ysgol Dinas Bran at Llangollen, had been studying to become a beauty therapist.

Her mother said the course was more than just a pathway to a career for Katie. It was also her passion.

“The course she chose to do was perfect for her because she loved learning about beauty techniques in her own time”, Mrs Ansloos said.

“She did her own research, she was good at it and was always well turned out, immaculate.

“She was a smart young lady who had her own sense of style and was quite a popular young lady. She had a huge circle of friends.

“Katie was a bubbly character, very kind, with a good sense of right and wrong.

“She would stand up for anyone and fight their corner, and even did so for me at times.”

Mrs Ansloos added: “She was a generous, happy girl and that is how I’d like her to be remembered.”