A 10-year-old schoolgirl has been named as the person who died in a mudslide in North Yorkshire.

Lingfield Education Trust said Leah Harrison was a “much loved” pupil at Mount Pleasant School in Darlington.

It is understood she was on a school trip at the time of the incident.

Nick Blackburn, the trust’s chief executive, said: “The full details are still emerging but this is clearly a heartbreaking tragedy. Leah was a much loved part of our school and our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the school staff.

“Counselling is being arranged within the school for pupils and staff. We are all in a state of shock and we would ask that the privacy of the family and the school community is respected while we try to come to terms with what has happened.”

A statement from her family described Leah as a “happy, bubbly, go-lucky little girl” and said “God only takes the best”.

“The beautiful smile, the giddy laugh the silly jokes. You will never ever be forgotten baby girl,” it continued.

“You will achieve your dream and become a player for the Lionesses, spread those wings. May you rest in paradise.”

Shared on Facebook, the statement adds there are plans for a “balloon release” in a local field at 4pm on Monday.

The family is being supported by specially-trained officers.

On Wednesday, officers said they were responding to a mudslide, which happened at 1.15pm in Carlton-in-Cleveland.

The force said: “We can confirm that one person has sadly died as a result of the incident. Our thoughts are with their family and friends during this difficult time.”

In a statement on Wednesday, officers said no-one else was injured during the incident.

The area was cordoned off throughout the afternoon and members of the public were asked to avoid the area.

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