Laura family agony

Laura Stewart (20) from Cumbernauld, and her friend Mhairi Convy (18) from Lennoxtown, were in North Hanover Street near Buchanan Galleries, when a Range Rover mounted the pavement and hit them.

Emergency services were called to the scene but the girls were pronounced dead when they arrived at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Laura and Mhairi were accounts students at the Glasgow Central College of Commerce in the city centre.

The friends were on a free period from their course and decided to venture into the town to do some shopping.

It has been reported that the driver of the 4x4 suffered from a loss of consciousness before the accident. However, police are refusing to speculate on the cause of the crash as their investigations continue and the driver is still in hospital.

A 36-year-old pedestrian, Mark Hopwood, was also struck by the car but was released from hospital on Saturday and returned to his home in Cambuslang.

The college where the girls studied announced on Monday that a special memorial service will be held in the new year to commemorate the friends' lives.

The institute released a statement on Tuesday morning which said: "All staff from the college would like to pass on their condolences to the family and friends of Mhairi Convy and Laura Stewart. Both students will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time."

Laura's family were too upset to speak about her death.