DISTRAUGHT parents have paid a touching tribute to their “beautiful and bright” teacher daughter, who collapsed and died suddenly.

Louise Carey, 29, died unexpectedly on her way home to Rochford from work last Monday evening.

She was a teacher at Eastwood Primary School and her pupils, aged eight and nine, are being given counselling to help them come to terms with her death.

Louise lived with her parents, Collette and Paul Carey, who described her as a beautiful and bright daughter who loved listening to music.

In a statement, Mr and Mrs Carey said: “Her two cats, Saffy and Sasha, her family, and friends were her whole life.

“She was a very loving kind woman, who loved her job, especially all the children she taught. They were very special to her.”

While she was training, Louise, a former pupil at King Edmund School, Rochford, did teaching practice in numerous south Essex primary schools, including Blenheim Primary, in Leigh and Eastwood Academy.

Her first teaching job started at Eastwood Primary School in September 2012.

Louise leaves behind her parents and two brothers, Matthew and Mark.

Matthew is married to Erika with two sons Dylan, four and Francisco, two, all of whom lived together with Louise at the family home in Rochford. Her nephews called her “auntie noo-noo”.

Her other brother, Mark, is in the Army and recently served in Afghanistan.

Mr and Mrs Carey’s statement added: “Mark is engaged, and his fiance expecting a baby in April.

“Lou was hoping the baby would be a little girl. Just two days after she died, they found out the baby is to be a boy.

“She was very close to all her family including her great aunt Sheila, who lived locally.

“We are very proud and honoured to have had Louise as our daughter.”

Louise’s best friend has set up a memorial page on the Facebook website with the blessing of the family. It already has more than 480 “likes”.

Her parents have passed on their thanks to passers-by who came to their

daughter’s aid when she collapsed in Western Approaches, Eastwood.

The family’s statement says: “We’d like to thank the caring people who

stopped to help our daughter. It has helped us know there was someone

holding her hand and reassuring her until we arrived.

“We also thank the ambulance, police and hospital staff who battled so hard to

save our daughter’s life. You are a credit to your profession.”

The cause of Louise’s death has yet to be formally determined and a date has yet to be set for her funeral.