NEWS of an Accrington girl’s death that circulated on internet social media sites were just rumours, police said.

Users of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posted varying stories of a youngster who died over the weekend after her parents refused the youngster, who was allegedly fasting for Ramadhan, food or water and sent her to bed.

The ‘age’ of the girl varied from six to 10-years-old and her location from Accrington to Blackburn, but it did not stop several users posting tributes.

Netherton councillor Noordad Aziz called the rumours ‘a complete fabrication and hoax’ and asked people to refrain from passing them on.

He said: “I received a lot of derogatory text messages telling me young people should not fast and they said it was cruelty.

“Young people are exempt from fasting, it’s their choice until they are 15 or 16 when their body has developed.”

A police spokesman confirmed they were not aware of any deaths in the area.