TRIBUTES have been paid to a 12-year-old Clayton-le-Woods girl who died suddenly.

Friends of Sophie Greenall, who was a pupil at Westholme in Blackburn, have set up a group on social networking site, Facebook, after her death last Friday.

Sophie had been off school for a week with a cold and the website said it was believed that the teenager suffered chest pains and found it difficult to breath on November 28.

She was rushed to hospital where she later died.

Vice Principal Anne Patefield described the Year 8 pupil as a ‘popular,’ ’ideal student’ who had a ‘bright future ahead of her'.

She said: “Sophie was a wonderful student. She was an all round student Year 8 pupil and was good at lots of things. She was good at sport and swimming.

“She came to the middle school in the year 2000 and had been a pupil in the middle school.

“Sophie was very popular and was an ideal student.

“She was a happy fun girl and had lots of friends.

“It has been a great shock to everybody. Her colleagues have carried out a service and we have had a service for the whole school.

"There was a memorial service with photographs and we will discuss the possibility of a memorial or a fitting tribute at a later date.”

So far 142 people have joined the tribute page on Facebook where a number of friends have left tributes to her.

Lydia Hill from Westholme Upper School, wrote ‘Rest in peace’ and others include Abi Kaym from Westholme Upper School who says ‘RIP little swimming fish! xx’.

Mrs Patefield added: ”Sophie was not in school the week before she dies.

“She will be missed by everybody.

“When staff found out that Sophie had died they all said she was a was such a lovely had working pupil, an ideal student.

"You could not ask for a nicer girl.

“I am sure she would have had a bright future ahead of her.”

Sophie leaves behind her mother Carol, father Mike and sister Katy.

The family were too upset to comment.