A woman has been killed in an alleged hit and run only a week after retiring and a month before she was due to get married.

Gwen Valentine, a 62-year-old mother-of-three from Winchester, was on holiday visiting family in the Isle of Man.

She was struck whilst walking on the isolated Tholt-y-Will road on Saturday.

Ms Valentine was with her fiancé - who she was due to marry next month - and her son at the time.

Her family last night released a statement through the police.

It reads: 'She was taken in the prime of her life, and all who knew her loved her for her zest for life, humour, fearlessness and compassion.

'She will be sorely missed.'

Ms Valentine was preparing for her wedding in June, had been retired for just over a week and her first grandchild was not yet a year old.

A 30-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident.