THE parents of a Colchester teenager who died suddenly have paid tribute to their “shy, caring and loving daughter”.

Kerry Pates, 19, died after suffering a seizure at her Cowdary Avenue home.

Her father Kevin said: “She was such a sweetheart. She was quite a shy girl. She just loved her life and didn’t want for anything.”

The former Gilberd School and St James Primary School pupil was studying at Colchester Institute and worked part time as a waitress at the Sun pub, in Feering.

Kerry was a huge fan of boyband One Direction and was due to go to see them in concert on Saturday.

Her brother Kieran and friend are now going in her place, and the pair are trying to get the band to do a shout out for Kerry.

She had already seen them twice, during their last tour and the X Factor tour.

Mrs Pates said: “She loved them. She was really looking forward to seeing them.

“Right from the beginning, when she saw then on X Factor, she was rooting for them.”

Kieran, along with a group of Kerry’s friends, have taken to social network to spread the work in a bid to get their plea noticed.

To join in, tweet using the hashtag #shoutoutforkerry.