Storm Doris: Woman killed by debris outside Starbucks named as University of Wolverhampton worker Tahnie Martin

The 29-year-old from Stafford was walking along Dudley Street with colleagues when the large piece of wooden roofing flew from a building during Storm Doris.

She was badly injured and died at the scene.

Today tributes were paid to the popular 'irrepressibly optimistic and kind' marketing worker, as police confirmed they were looking into any possible criminal liability.

• UPDATE: Tributes continue to pour in for 'shining star' killed in Storm Doris

The area outside the Mander Centre was immediately cordoned off yesterday and officers are working with Wolverhampton council and the Health and Safety Executive to establish exactly what happened.

Det Insp Joyce, from West Midlands Police, said: "We are still trying to ascertain who the building belongs to and whether there is any criminal liability.

"This is a deeply tragic incident and our thoughts remain with Miss Martin's family.

"We would ask that their privacy is respected in their time of grief."

Miss Martin had been due to start a permanent job as postgraduate marketing manager at the University of Wolverhampton next week, after working as maternity cover for the Faculty of Arts' marketing manager since August last year.

The Birmingham City University graduate organised a celebration of 50 years of English at the university, which took place less than 24 hours before her death, and was described as one of the 'shining stars' of the marketing team.

Senior English Lecturer Dr Aidan Byrne was at the anniversary celebrations and said Miss Martin would be 'missed by everyone who knew her'.

"Everyone in the English department is shocked and saddened by the death yesterday of Tahnie Martin," Dr Byrne said in a tribute on Facebook.

"She organised our 50th Anniversary Dinner on Wednesday night, coping with us with humour and forbearance.

"She was irrepressibly optimistic and kind, full of ideas and always enthusiastic.

"We were so grateful to her, and we're glad that the last thing we did on Wednesday night was give her a hug and tell her how much we appreciated everything she did.

"She will be missed by everyone who knew her."

Katharine Clough, Director of External Relations at the university, said Miss Martin's colleagues felt 'privileged and honoured to have worked alongside her'.

"She was one of our shining stars, a talented and creative marketing professional with an enthusiasm and smile which were infectious," Ms Clough said.

"Tahnie was extremely popular and will be hugely missed. All of our thoughts are with her family and friends at this tragic time."

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer also paid tribute, saying: "We are all deeply saddened by this tragic loss.

"During Tahnie's short time at the university, she made a real impact both in a professional and personal capacity. She became a very popular member of the team and was highly valued."

A number of Miss Martin's colleagues were with her at the time of the tragedy. Two were treated for minor injuries at New Cross Hospital and later discharged.

Miss Martin was the first victim of Storm Doris, which brought winds of up to 94mph to the UK, and also injured three others in separate incidents.

A girl was also left with life-threatening injuries after a ceiling collapsed in a school sports hall in Milton Keynes, while a man was left in a "serious condition" in a central London hospital following reports of "debris falling from the roof of a building" by Victoria Station.

In Stoke-on-Trent a woman in her 60s was taken to hospital for a "serious head injury" after being hit by a carport roof.

A top wind speed of 94mph was recorded in Capel Curig, North Wales, on Thursday as gales, snow and rain caused travel disruption on the roads and rail network, brought down trees, grounded planes and toppled large vehicles.