WORK colleagues and friends paid tribute to Amy Vigus describing her as “the brightest girl” with “an absolute heart of gold”.

The 20-year-old died after taking a substance she understood to be ecstasy at a music festival in east London. 

Amy, of Rudkin Road, in Colchester, worked for IT Fleet Automotive based at Great Wenham, just outside the town.

Kim Timmis, the firm’s commercial director, said she was a valued member of the company and the “work family” would never be the same again.

She said: “We have had the privilege of knowing Amy for four years and have seen her grow and mature professionally over these years.

“With a promising career ahead of her as a qualified accountant she was a valid member our accounts team, with an outstanding knowledge of our whole business.

“She was always the first person to step up when fundraising events were being organised and loved bossing us around in the name of charity.

“Amy was the brightest girl, with a massive personality and an absolute heart of gold.

“There is no-one within our organisation who hasn’t been affected by Amy’s death, this tragedy has left us all shocked and stunned.

“We just hope that her death was not in vain and other people stop and think about what they are doing and the choices they make.”

She added: “Our love and support goes to her family at this sad, sad time.

“We love Amy dearly and miss her so very much, our work family here will never be the same again.”

Amy was one of the team from IT Fleet Automotive preparing to take part in a sky dive to raise money for the Cancer Centre Campaign.

Amy had completed one before and was set to again as staff sought to support the appeal to create a new £3.25 million cancer centre at Colchester General Hospital.

The fundraiser is being organised by Amy’s colleague Jane Rivett as a thank you to the hospital for the care they had shown to her mum, Sylvia Ponsonby, 78.

Sylvia has undergone chemotherapy at the Mary Barron suite at the hospital.