THE grieving dad of a Scots student killed on an exchange trip to America today paid tribute to his "beautiful girl".

Twenty-year-old Lisa Moran was knocked down and killed by a bus while jogging at her college in North Carolina.

The Paisley student had been due to return home to resume her studies at Glasgow University in a few weeks.

But instead, dad Fraser and mum Carolyn had to fly to the States to bring Lisa's body back to Scotland.

Speaking today at the family home in Paisley, her dad Fraser said: "Lisa was beautiful, fiercely intelligent, fun-loving - and she was having a great time in America.

"She made a lot of new friends out there, and she was as happy as she had ever been in her life.

"Lisa was enjoying every minute of her time in America. She was loved by all who knew her and it is a terrible loss to all of us. "

Mr Moran , who has two other children, Kevin, 17, and Natalie, nine, added: "It was a very unfortunate accident that nine times out of 10 would not have happened.

"Lisa was out jogging, came to a crossroads - and did not see the bus coming."

Since the tragic accident last Thursday, staff at the University of North Carolina have paid tribute to Lisa.

In a message to students on the UNC website, Dean of the School of Law, Jack Boger, said everyone had been "deeply saddened" by Lisa's death.

One message on Lisa's Bebo site read: "Life is so cruel to take you so soon."

And Lisa herself recently posted a message on the site saying: "Currently living it up in the sunny city of Chapel Hill."

Lisa was on six-month exchange as part of her third-year studies for a law and business degree at Glasgow University.

The former pupil and Dux of St Andrew's Academy in Paisley had intended to complete her degree on her return to Scotland before pursuing a law career, possibly in North Carolina.

She was also keen on sport, having been a ski instructor, and enjoyed squash.

Lisa's funeral will be held on Friday in Paisley.