A YOUNG woman died after collapsing at a nightclub while celebrating her 20th birthday on Saturday. And this week her family and friends paid tribute to their Little Miss Perfect . Nicola Emmerson, 20, of Lingfield Road, Royston, was celebrating at Desti

A YOUNG woman died after collapsing at a nightclub while celebrating her 20th birthday on Saturday.

And this week her family and friends paid tribute to their 'Little Miss Perfect'.

Nicola Emmerson, 20, of Lingfield Road, Royston, was celebrating at Destiny nightclub in Watford.

She was dancing on a podium at the club with friends when she collapsed and stopped breathing.

Nicola was taken to Watford General Hospital after attempts to resuscitate her, but was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Although Nicola was born with a mild heart problem, her parents Julie and Steven said she had been fine until the incident, apart from having heart palpitations just before Christmas.

Julie and Steven said the incident was even more tragic for it to have happened on her birthday.

They said: "At least she was doing what she loved most - partying and showing people how to have a good time. She wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else."

Nicola was a former Greneway and Meridian School pupil.

Julie said: "Nicola always came into the room like a whirlwind. She had to have 100 per cent of your undivided attention. When she walked into a room you knew she was around. She was high-spirited and everything had to be a drama.

"She also thought she was a princess and went by the name of Little Miss Perfect. Even her car which was her pride and joy had a personalised number plate with 'Little Miss Perfect'.

"Life without her will now be clouded forever more. A light has gone out."

Nicola also leaves behind her 21-year-old brother Daniel, and 11-year-old sister Charlotte.

Charlotte said: "I will miss my funny, pretty sister. She always made me laugh and we would go shopping together in her car.

"She would make me hold the cheap shopping bags and she would hold the expensive bags.

"I am going to miss her so much - she will always be with me in my heart."

Friends Nicci Clarke and Jemma Adcock said: "Nicola would always brighten up moments with her witty sense of humour - she was loud, out-going, and was always the one you could joke about with.

"It will always be the thing we remember about her."

Nicola's boyfriend Phil Jeffries, said: "I want to thank Nicola for being my girlfriend and best friend.

"Time spent with Nicola has been the best of my life."

Nicola had worked at Hotel Chocolat in York Way, Royston for the past five years.

Her manager, Debbie Mahon, said: "Everyone was shocked to hear the news. It's terribly sad.

"Nicola was a valuable and established member of the team."

Julie and Steven said they would like to thank all Nicola's friends for their support, as well as the team at Destiny nightclub.

Carl Howells, manager of Destiny, said: "We want to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to Nicola's family and friends.

"They were tragic circumstances, but every effort was made to do everything we could for her before the ambulance arrived."

A funeral is to be arranged. Nicola's parents have planned a Cinderella carriage with white horses which they said was her "dream".

- An inquest has been opened and adjourned.