THE sister of a mother of five killed in a hit-and-run has paid a heartfelt tribute to "father's favourite".

Iram Shehzadi, who was aged 39, died on Monday after being struck by a car on her way to collect her daughter from Lapage Primary School, on Barkerend Road.

The collision happened at the junction of Hinchcliffe Street and Beech Terrace, in Barkerend, at around 3pm and involved a grey Citroen C1.

It is believed she ended up on the grass next to the nearby greenway after the impact from the car and suffered fatal injuries.

Detectives were continuing to question a 41-year-old man on Thursday, arrested on suspicion of murder and causing death by dangerous driving in connection with the incident.

Huma Akbar, Mrs Shehzadi's sister, said the whole family is devastated about the loss of their loved one, who was fondly known as "Ruby".

She added: "Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not.

"We are still struggling to come to terms with the news of my sister, Iram’s, passing. Words cannot explain the devastation that we are going through. When I got the phone call, I was gasping for air.

"I told my husband that I was lost for words and he took the phone off me because he didn’t understand what I was saying.

"I remember crying so much from the unbearable suffering the news of her death inflicted.

"It came as such a shock. A part of me says that she is gone, whilst the other part still believes that she is here with us still."

Ruby, the eldest of six children, came to England 20 years ago to start a new life with her husband after a tragic family loss.

Mrs Akbar said: "Our father had passed away at a young age.

"She was the oldest in the family and was fondly referred to as Ruby by everyone she knew.

"She was a beautiful, caring, hardworking mum who loved her family to bits."

Ruby visited hospital every so often for treatment for a chronic illness and she was well-loved by all who crossed her path.

Mrs Akbar said: "I rang the hospital, and the nurse who knew Ruby started to cry, saying how nice, caring and quiet Ruby was and how she was always smiling.

"She was always there for her family, and she never let her illness affect her.

"No one should die the way my sister died."

The 39-year-old was a mother to five children, ranging in ages from seven to 18.

People knew her face on the school-run and her sister said it is "heart-breaking" to think of those final moments - doing something she had done hundreds of times previously - before tragedy struck.

She said: "Ruby was fasting at the time, and was going to collect her daughter from school, little knowing that those were the last moments of her life in this temporary world.

"It is heart-breaking to think about. 

"Ruby’s loss has affected the entire family and relatives.

"They are in a lot of pain knowing that they will not get to see her and hug her for a final time.

"Words cannot explain the agony I feel when I see Ruby’s children, who are still shocked and heartbroken, left without a mother."

Mrs Akbar thanked all those who had paid tribute to her sister and urged people to "hold onto your loved ones" and "cherish the moments that you have with them" because "life is too short".

She added: "Ruby, I will miss you always. You did not deserve to leave this world the way that you did. You were father's favourite child.

"He loved you so much and you are the first to go to him in paradise.

"I wished, and I am still wishing, that this is all just a bad dream and you are still at home doing your daily chores.

"I will never forget you. Nobody could forget you because of the way you lived your life.

"I love you so much Ruby, my sister, and although I will never be able to speak to you again, I will pray every day that we will see you again one day, waiting for us at the gates of paradise, smiling."