THE mother of Ashleigh Hall, who was found dead in a field, has today paid tribute to the "loving, honest, caring and well-liked"Darlington teenager.

The 17-year-old's body was found in a field near Sedgefield, County Durham, after she arranged to meet a man she had befriended on the internet.

A convicted sex offender was this morning due to appear before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe charged with her manslaughter and kidnap.

Andrea Hall, Ashleigh's mother, also warned other parents to warn their children of the possible tragic consequences of using the internet.

"To have Ashleigh taken from us in such circumstances is beyond belief and I don't want other families to suffer what we are going through," she said.

"Tell your kids to be careful on the internet. Don't meet someone without telling your family where you are going. Don't trust anybody and don't put your children on Facebook or other sites if they are under age.

"We have learned a terrible lesson. All we ask now is that people help the police in any way they can. We don't want any other child to be a victim."

Ashleigh, of Warwick Square, Darllington, was a former pupil of Hurworth School and was studying child care at Darlington College, and was the eldest of four children.

Her sisters – Olivia, aged six, Ellie, four and one-year-old Evie have been distraught.

Ashleigh was last seen at 7pm on Sunday night after telling her mother she planned to stay overnight at a friend's house, promising she woul return by Monday lunchtime.

Her mother added: "No one can imagine the hurt and devastation that has hit our family.

"Ashleigh was loving, honest, caring and well-liked. Everybody loved her. She was a person who brought light into the lives of others.

"Ashleigh was in her last year at college on a child care course and hoped for a career as a child minder or nursery nurse.

"All the kids liked her, in the fact the whole community was fond of her and they have shown that love by rallying round to support us in our time of need."

Durham Police said this morning that a 32-year-old man of no fixed address had been charged over Ashleigh's death, and also with failing to notify a new address as required for sex offenders under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.