A toddler and her grandmother have been killed in a car crash in New Zealand.
Three-year-old Iva Harper and her grandmother Sera Eades, 60, both of Amwell House, Isleworth, were killed yesterday when their car hit a power pole in the New Brighton area of Christchurch, on the way to hospital to visit Sera's mother-in-law.
Sera's husband Michael, who was driving, is the sole survivor of the crash - which also killed his cousin Valerie Bryan, 60, from Leicestershire.
'Inseparable': Sera looked after Iva while her mother Lini worked as a GP
The family had been in New Zealand since Monday and had spent most of their time visiting Mr Eades' mother and yesterday the family decided to drive instead of taking the bus.
Her mother Lini, a doctor, and father Jeffery, who were in Isleworth at the time, flew out to New Zealand yesterday.
Iva was due to start her first day of nursery at Isleworth Town Primary School next week.
Neighbours spoke of their shock at the news and said Sera and Iva were "inseparable".
Friend Sue Crabtree, 40, said Sera had offered to look after Iva when her daughter got a new job.
She said: "They were just inseparable they were the closest family - they went out together and did everything together.
“It is just devastating. They were just the warmest, kindest people. Lini is one of my closest friends.
“They are just the most lovely people ever. Anyone's lives they came into contact with they touched. Sera looked after all us, we are just devastated.
"You honestly couldn't meet a nicer family and how Lini has lost her mum and daughter is something she will never get over. The whole block of flat is just devastated."
Mother and daughter just three weeks ago at Sera's 60th birthday party.
She said Mrs Eades had taken Iva to New Zealand as a treat to meet members of her extended family.
Michael, known to friends as Geoff, is said to be "inconsolable".
Geoff's brother John McCombe: “On the three previous days we had taken them to the hospital or they had caught the bus.
“But yesterday my elderly father said, ‘Why don't you take my car?'
"So they spent the day visiting the hospital, but the combination of jet lag, no sleep and stress has come together. They hit the pole. No-one else was involved.”
Did you know the family? Leave your tributes below or call our newsroom on 0208 744 4274.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here