THE tight-knit village of St Mary Bourne has been in mourning this week following the sudden death of a popular village teenager on a trip to west Wales.

Rosie Carter, aged 19, who lived at Applegate in the centre of the picturesque village, died on Sunday having travelled to Tenby to support her aunt, who was taking part in a sporting event, thought to be the Iron Man Wales extreme triathlon.

The news has led to a torrent of sympathetic and shocked messages about the popular young woman on social media sites.

Rosie’s mother, Emma Carter-Desai wrote on Facebook: “My darling darling Rosé.

“You always knew how much I worried about you and probably annoyed you, but if you can see me or hear me, which I hope you can, I want you to know how proud I was, even though I didn’t always say it.

“Beautiful darling I love you more than anything and my heart feels like it’s exploding.”

Close friend Rachael Langley, wrote: “It’s a pleasure to have called you my best friend, always so full of life and never afraid to be yourself.

“So inspirational, I have many great memories from the good old days; germ inspectors, ‘Can’t you see I’m angry’, you winning the Shakira competition at Millie’s birthday, our little adventure to the river in SMB, our sleepover, and not to mention the time we were sent to Mrs Jenkins for doing the can-can.

“Always a wonderful friend, always in my heart, Rest in peace lovely.”

Rosie was educated in the village school, Rookwood in Andover before heading off to Peter Symonds in Winchester and university in Nottingham.

She had worked in the village as a waitress at The George and was chosen as one of the Andover carnival attendants back in 2006.