The death of a 12-year-old girl who hanged herself on Christmas Day was a "prank that went wrong", a coroner ruled yesterday.

Georgina Phelan was discovered by her mother, Debbie, in a bedroom cupboard which had been fashioned into a theatrical-type changing room where she spent hours dressing up.

On the evening of Christmas Day, Mrs Phelan went upstairs and found her daughter hanged, with a black scarf tied to a pole in the cupboard and wrapped round her neck.

During inquiries, it was suggested that Georgina, known as Georgi by her family, had been bullied at school.

However, Gateshead and South Tyneside coroner Terence Carney, yesterday said that Georgina had not killed herself because of problems at school.

Mr Carney said: "I am concerned, and have been concerned from the outset, about an assertion that in some way her death was caused or contributed to by what might or might not have been going on at school.

"The reality is that I don't think a great deal was happening in school of any concern. I have no doubt there were incidents but I do not believe they, in any shape or form, affected Georgina.

"I'm sorry this spectre of bullying has come into the picture. There may out there be children who have perhaps had a cross word and in some way may now feel they are being judged or held responsible."

Mr Carney said he firmly believed that Georgina was trying to give her family a playful shock by pretending to be hanging.

He said: "I have no doubt in my mind that this child did not commit suicide and am satisfied that this was, essentially, a prank which went wrong."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court had heard how Georgina and her family had spent a "fun-filled" Christmas Day before the tragedy at the family home in Scarborough Parade, Hebburn, South Tyneside.

After the inquest, the family said in a statement: "Georgi is deeply missed by all her family and friends. We are too saddened at this time to talk about events surrounding Georgi's death.

''This sadness is going to last a long time and we ask to be given this time to reflect over Georgi's life, to remember all the joy she brought to many people."