DEVASTATED mum Wendy Kettle today spoke of the "denial" she has felt since her teenage daughter died in a road accident.The 42-year-old was driving along Long Road East, Dedham, early on March 28, when her white Ford Escort crashed into a telegraph pole, killing the passenger, her 17-year-old daughter Julia.

By Nick Richards

DEVASTATED mum Wendy Kettle today spoke of the "denial" she has felt since her teenage daughter died in a road accident.

The 42-year-old was driving along Long Road East, Dedham, early on March 28, when her white Ford Escort crashed into a telegraph pole, killing the passenger, her 17-year-old daughter Julia.

Ms Kettle, who lives in Colchester Road, Lawford, said she was nowhere near getting over the tragic accident, which happened last week.

She said: "I'm still in denial since the accident - it hasn't sunk in yet just what has happened. I still expect her to walk into the room at any second and it's going to take a lot of getting used to. We were very close."

Julia and her mother were on their way to Braintree to visit family when the accident happened. She was certified dead at the scene.

A post mortem revealed Julia had died from multiple injuries. Police said the vehicle appeared to go out of control on a bend and left the road.

Just over a week after the accident, Julia's mother reflected on her daughter's life, saying she would remember her for the joy she put into the lives of others.

She said: "She was a really happy-go-lucky girl and she had a big circle of friends. She was kind, honest, truthful and would help anyone as best she could.

"She had a busy social life, a boyfriend, Lee, who she had been seeing for three or four months and she was very close to him."

Julia lived with her mother and brothers Jamie, 21, Fraser, 15, Bradley, 13, and sisters Faye, 10, and Sophie, 9, in Lawford, Essex.

At the family home, where sympathy cards line the lounge walls, Julia's composed mother talked of her daughter's love of art.

"She was very arty and loved to decorate bedroom's with flowers and stars. She had a real talent for art and it was something she really enjoyed. She also loved cats."

Julia's bedroom bears testament to this - it is adorned with pictures of her friends, of cats and tigers and lots of candles.

"She loved her candles and her pictures and loved this room too. For the time being we'll leave the room as it is as the others will help to sort through some of her stuff."

Julia worked as a trainee estate agent for Bairstow Eves in Colchester, a job she had held for five to six months.

"She loved her job and I remember the day very clearly when she heard she'd got it. She saw the advert and applied for it, but she was partly deaf and there were 20 other applicants so it was a surprise to her when she heard that she had the job.

"When she heard she had the job she just went mad. Bairstow's have been brilliant since the accident and have been very supportive and I would like to thank them."

Julia had left Manningtree High School last summer before continuing her studies, in connection with her job, at Colchester Institute.

She had also worked part-time at the Black Horse pub in Lawford for two years.

Julia's mother added: "I'd also like to thank everyone else who has helped and offered their support. Her friends have been brilliant and have made sure we're OK."

n Julia's funeral will be held at Lawford Church next Friday at 1pm, with a reception afterwards at the Black Horse pub, Lawford. The family said that any of Julia's friends were welcome to attend the service. Any flowers are to be sent to Pascal's in Manningtree High Street.