A TALENTED Southampton student has died after stumbling into the path of a gritter lorry during a night out with friends.

Budding scriptwriter Melissa Wallace was killed on Edinburgh's North Bridge after leaving the city's washed-out Hogmanay celebrations at about 1.15am.

The 20-year-old, who had been wearing high heels, is thought to have slipped in the stormy weather as she tried to cross the road.

Police said that she had suffered severe head injuries after being dragged under the gritter and died at the scene.

Melissa, who had been spending the month-long Christmas break with her family, was described as a star student on her media and scriptwriting course at Southampton Institute.

Today her parents told how she had hoped to work in the movies after graduating.

Her heartbroken mother, Arlene Wallace, 40, said: "Melissa had everything to live for. She was a talented, bright girl.

"My heart has been ripped from my body since I heard the news.

"Melissa was doing really well at university and was an incredible writer. She always went that extra yard in whatever she did.

"She was always on the go and making plans for the future."

Speaking from the family home in Glenrothes, Fife, Melissa's father, Melvyn, 44, added: "She was such a bright star. I can't explain what her loss means to us."

Fun-loving Melissa had been close to her parents as well as her brother Andrew, 19, and 15-year-old sister Lauren.

Mrs Wallace, a paper mill worker, said the family was lost without her.

Police said Melissa had been with a group of friends standing at a central reservation in the middle of North Bridge when she fell into the side of a passing council gritter.

Officers described the incident as an "horrific accident" which had been witnessed by people making their way home from Edinburgh city centre.

Earlier, Hogmanay festivities in the city had been cancelled because of bad weather.

Police said a passing doctor had tried to save Melissa but could do nothing to help.

Paramedics also arrived within minutes.

The gritter driver was unhurt but left badly shaken.