TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'lovely and kind' schoolgirl who died suddenly of suspected meningitis.

Lois Phelps, 13, from Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, was described by her headteacher at Ryedale School as an active and popular pupil.

Geoff Jenkinson said: "She was an absolutely lovely young lady with lots of friends and a quiet disposition.

"At the end of last term she was voted by her tutor group as the kindest member of her form."

Pupils were told of Lois' death at a special assembly held at the end of the school day, to allow them to go home and grieve.

Another assembly was held the next morning where Lois' friends discussed making a memory box for her family, who have asked that any mobile phone images of taken of the Year 9 student be put on a CD for them to keep.

Lois was a member of the school hockey team and had recently played an active role in a school production of My Fair Lady.

Dr Simon Padfield, consultant in communicable disease control at North Yorkshire and Humber Health Protection Unit, said: "This is a tragic case reminding us what a devastating illness this can be and our deepest sympathies are with the family concerned.

"The crucial thing is being able to recognise the signs and symptoms and to get treatment as soon as possible, but even with early recognition sadly it is not always possible to stop the rapid progress of this disease which appears to be the case here."