A NEWPORT-born woman who died in a car crash in the Middle East last week was “a beautiful free spirit”, say devastated friends.

Layla Lloyd, 29, died on Sunday, July 17, in Doha, Qatar, just months after moving from Kuwait, where she had worked for a number of years.

The former Duffryn High School pupil is understood to have been a passenger, and to have died instantly.

Her body was returned to Newport, to grief-stricken mother Carol Thomas, and sister Kerry Lloyd, 25, at the weekend. They live in Maesglas.

Former schoolfriends, inspired by Miss Lloyd’s friends in Kuwait who organised a fundraising event in her memory, are now planning a walk from Cardiff to Newport next Sunday, July 31.

“I still can’t get my head around it,” said Dionne Johnson, who now lives in Solihull.

“She was such a high-spirited, lovely girl, full of life. With the walk we’re raising money for her family.

That’s how much people think of Layla.”

Melissa Doherty, of Newport, said Layla was “very much a free spirit, a beautiful person, inside and out”.

“Everyone who met her had good things to say about her,” she said.

• Sunday’s walk begins in Newport Road, Cardiff, at 10am, finishing at Tredegar House Drive, Newport.

“Everybody who takes part should wear something pink as a tribute,” said Ms Johnson.

To take part or support the walk e-mail Ms Johnson on miss.de@hotmail.co.uk or telephone Ms Doherty on 07557 358532.

DW Fitness on East Retail Park, Maesglas, is a collection and dropoff point for sponsorship forms.