THE devastated family of a former Abergavenny woman who died following a motorbike crash in Italy described her as caring, popular and determined.

Wendy Pointer, 60, died on Tuesday along with partner Colin Morrish, 63, and Michael Vercoe,66, a former builder after a collision with a lorry whilst on a touring holiday in Mezzolombardo, Trento, to celebrate her 60th .

Mrs Pointer lived in Rochester, Kent at the time of her death, but grew up in Abergavenny.

Her brother Graham Clarke, of Merthyr Road, Abergavenny, described her as a wonderful sister who put others first.

"She was a wonderful woman who cared so much for others," said Mr Clarke a retired taxi driver.

"She lived for her daughter Sarah-Louise,34, and grandchildren Lucy and Michael," he said.

Mrs Pointer, then Jones, spent her childhood in a cottage in Hardwick Lane, Llanellen with her late-parents Dorothy and Albert and siblings Graham, 70, Ian, 63, and Evonne,62. She attended Llanellen Primary School before the family moved to Pentre Lodge on Brecon Road, Abergavenny. Mrs Pointer studied at Harold Road and King Henry VIII Comprehensive schools in Abergavenny. She then spent three years training as a nurse at Hereford School of Nursing. The grandmother-of-two, went onto become a clinical nurse specialist in rheumatology for the Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

Life-long friend Sue Addis, 68, of Crickhowell shared a flat with Mrs Pointer at nursing college.

"She was so dedicated and determined to succeed in nursing and went as far as she could as a specialist nurse in rheumatology," said Mrs Addis.

"She was so well liked and we had such fun together."

The pair moved to Dartford in Kent to pursue their nursing careers, where the then Wendy Jones met her first husband Roy Pointer whom she married in Llanwenarth in 1970 but the couple later separated.

Sister-in-law Marjorie Clarke, of Llwynu Close, Abergavenny said she last spoke to Mrs Pointer on Sunday.

"She was on a motorcycle touring holiday with friends for her 60th birthday earlier this month as a present from her partner Colin, who was a member of a motorcycle club.

"She sounded so happy. I met Colin when they came to Brecon during the summer and they were so happy."

"The family are devastated," she added.