A MOTHER told last night of her struggle to come to terms with the death of her apparently healthy daughter who died suddenly during a school games lesson.

Charlotte Turnbull-Adams collapsed last Thursday while practising for sports day at St Margaret's Primary School at Neville's Cross, Durham City.

Eight-year-old Charlotte, whose parents Deborah and Michael are divorced, lived with her mother and two younger brothers, in York Crescent on Durham's Newton Hall Estate.

They were unaware she had the heart defect which led to her death. Mrs Turnbull-Adams said: "Charlotte was a physically normal little girl so it came as an awful shock, especially as she was quite active and threw herself into everything she did.

"It just hasn't sunk in yet and we keep expecting to see her in the house. She was always running in and out, taking ice cream for her friends in the street and stealing from the biscuit tin."

She described her daughter as "a good girl who loved school" and who had lots of friends.

Charlotte liked art and music and was planning to join the school choir next term.

She was a member of a children's group at the Botanic Gardens in Durham City and was also hoping to join a girls' football team.

Mrs Turnbull-Adams said: "She wasn't the greatest academic but she was very arty and worked hard.

"She was vivacious and full of energy and loved being the centre of attention. Everyone is going to miss her."

Charlotte's brothers, Kristian, five, and Philip, four, are both back at school but are still trying to overcome the shattering loss of their sister.

Dianne Mowbray-Pape, headteacher at St Margaret's School, said: "The whole school is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic death of such a happy young girl."

After she collapsed, Charlotte was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham but was confirmed dead on arrival.

A post mortem examination revealed her death was caused by a blocked artery leading from her heart.

Charlotte's funeral takes place at St Margaret's Church, Crossgate, Durham, at 1.30pm today.