'Francesca's death has left a gap in our lives

The bright 15-year-old had become virtually inseparable from Jessica Powell, Melanie Slinn and Laura Thain since her return from Australia seven months ago.

The girls, all prefects at Bexhill High, say Francesca's sudden death has left a gap in their lives which can never be filled.

Jessica said: "She was just a lovely person - always smiling, very caring, with a really funny and bubbly personality. She didn't have a bad bone in her body."

"She was a very earnest person and she couldn't stand bad feeling.

"If there were any arguments she would be the first to sort them out and get everybody smiling again.

"She didn't have a single enemy. I doubt if anybody could not like her."

Melanie added: "The four of us seemed to have a special bond, like we almost knew what each other was thinking. We did everything together - shopping, going to the cinema.

"We used to e-mail and text each other at night. It's very hard to come to terms with the fact that's ended."

One of their final happy memories is Francesca and Melanie's joint 16th birthday party, when Francesca asked the DJ to play her favourite pop song, by Nelly and Kelly, five times."

The girls were told of Francesca's condition on Friday night and visited her on Sunday and Monday, when they said their final goodbyes.

"She looked so beautiful and peaceful at rest. It was just like she was sleeping," said Laura.

Jessica added: "There's always going to be an empty gap. There are four seats on the lunch tables and we used to sit together. One seat's going to be empty now, which will be really weird."

Pictured: Laura, Melanie and Jessica.