TRIBUTES have been paid to a 14-year-old girl found hanged at a house party.

The teenager, named locally as Sarah Clerkson, was discovered in the early hours of Sunday (December 8) by party-goers at a house on Ash Grove, in Spennymoor, County Durham.

Miss Clerkson, of Sunderland, had been put to bed after she fell ill.

Unable to rouse her two hours later, the bedroom door was kicked open and she was found hanging.

Host John Moore, 16, told how he tried to revive Miss Clerkson before she was rushed to the University Hospital of North Durham. She died later.

Tributes have now been paid to the schoolgirl on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook.

Khalid Tilbury wrote: "RIP Sarah. You’ve gone too soon and at such a young age. Heaven has gained another angel."

While Sophie Carr posted "RIP Sarah. Have a Merry Christmas up there with the angels xx."

Amanda Bewick added: "You must have been a lovely girl. RIP sweetheart. God takes the best and leaves the mess."

It has been reported that Miss Clerkson had been bullied in the weeks before her death, but these claims have not been substantiated.

It is understood Miss Clerkson, a student at Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College, in Spennymoor, was in foster care provided by Sunderland City Council.

A council spokesman said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family and friends at this difficult time.

“It would be inappropriate to speculate on what may have led to her death and to risk further upsetting family and friends.”

Durham Constabulary has said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

A remembrance event for Miss Clerkson is to be held at Hardwick Park, in Sedgefield, County Durham, on Friday (December 13) at 6.30pm.