THE parents of Morecambe girl Nicola Pace have expressed relief after test results finally revealed the cause of their daughter's death this week. The Citizen has learned that Nicola, of Lordsome Road in the resort's West End, died of a rare and undetectable condition called myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. The twelve-year-old school girl from Ripley St Thomas, who had two sisters Victoria and Fiona, was out on a cross-country run when she suddenly collapsed and died two weeks ago.

Nicola's Dad, Kevin Pace, said the family were initially relieved to discover that myocarditis wasn't hereditary.

He told the Citizen: "It was a great relief to find out what Nicola died from.

But we've been told what causes myocarditis effects people in different ways. For instance it might only give me a sore throat or a cold but sometimes in rare cases, as with Nicola, it attacks the heart.

"It's also more likely to effect children because they haven't built up strong immune systems."

Coroner's officer Tony Holden of Lancaster Police said her death had nothing to do with the fact that she was running at the time.

He explained: "There is nothing anyone could have done, it's very very sad. It could have happened anywhere and we just don't know why this happened to her. Nicola was just very unfortunate."

The Pace family have been flooded with flowers and about 200 cards of sympathy.

"We've received cards from people we didn't even know, the response has been overwhelming. At the moment we're just trying to get used to life without her, it's very hard. The real test will come when I get back to work," added Mr Pace.

An inquest hearing into Nicola's death will be held tomorrow (Friday) at Lancaster Magistrates' Court.

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