THE sudden death of a 14-year-old girl is being investigated by police.

Caitlyn Allen, of Billingham, near Stockton, was taken by ambulance to hospital on Saturday, February 16, at about 6.45pm where she was pronounced dead.

Cleveland Police confirmed an investigation has been launched. However, the force said the incident was being treated as a sudden death and is not being treated as suspicious.

Tributes have been paid to the teenager, who was a pupil at Northfield School and Sports College in Billingham, Teesside, and hoped to join the RAF.

Caitlyn lived with her mum Kelly Brown and stepfather Robert Clayton, brother Callum, 15, and 18 month old sister Maizie. Her father was David Allen.

Her mother and stepfather paid tribute in a statement issued through the police which read: “We will miss Caitlyn so much. She was a loving daughter and sister – Maizie thought the world of her. The girls shared a bedroom and Caitlyn loved her little sister and older brother Callum to bits.

“Caitlyn was soft hearted and would do anything for anyone – you’d only have to ask her once.

“She was bright, doing well at school and had talked seriously about going into the RAF once she left.

“Caitlyn loved JLS and she was a tomboy who loved to play football. She was a one–off, unique. She was so popular with loads of friends who will really miss her too.

“We’ve had dozens of messages from her friends and their parents to say they are sorry to hear of Caitlyn’s death and we would like to thank them all for their kind thoughts.”

Her devastated mum added a tribute on the youngster's Facebook page describing her as “my beautiful little butterfly who I love and cherish with all my heart”.

She added: “You were taken away from me and my life crumbled into a million pieces. Not knowing why is the hardest.”

Other friends paid their own tributes. Casey Sandra Earl said: “Sleep tight beautiful.”

Cleveland Police said inquiries are ongoing into the circumstances of how Caitlyn died. A post-mortem examination has taken place and an inquest opened. Anyone with information to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.