Update: Police name girl, seven, who died after being found on playing field with life-threatening injuries

Katie Rough was discovered on a grassy track leading to a playing field off a quiet residential street in York on Monday afternoon.

Her distraught mother was seen crying on her knees in the street and pleading for help, according to witnesses.

A 15-year-old girl was arrested after police were called to an address in the Woodthorpe area of York and found the young girl - described on tributes from family members as "darling princess Katie" - down a track with life-threatening injuries.

She was taken to hospital but died a short time later, North Yorkshire Police said.

Witnesses said the mother of the little girl arrived at the scene in Alness Drive on Monday afternoon, saying: "No, no, she's my little girl."

Rob McCartney, 50, who lives in one of the homes next to the track, said he saw the young girl lying in the field.

He said the child's mother was "distraught", shouting for help and saying her daughter had been killed.

He said: "The mother came running up the street shouting for help and saying 'Get an ambulance'.

"I put my shoes on, went up the side of the house. I could see a young girl lying in the field, police were already attending to her."

Mr McCartney added: "(The mother) was back and forth, obviously very, very distraught and who I think was the father turned up.

The grandparents of the seven-year-old girl arrive at the scene to lay flowers Picture: PA

"I spoke to her later, asked if she was OK and she said 'No, no, she's my little girl'.

"She said 'I think she's killed her'.

"They were obviously very distraught. Didn't want to talk to people, the two of them took themselves off, were consoling each other. I didn't recognise them."

A man and a woman, believed to be the young girl's grandparents, arrived in the quiet residential street and left a bunch of flowers by the cordon.

The card read: "Night, night my darling princess Katie, love Nana and Grandad."

A woman living in the house by the track said: "The mother was on her knees in the middle of the road, crying and saying things.

Police cordon off the scene in York while investigations are carried out. Picture: PA

"It was quite distressing."

The woman, who did not want to be named, said the family did not live in the street of six red-brick detached houses.

She said: "We've all been here a long time, there's no children in this street."

The woman said children often played in the field in the summer.

Tracey Ralph, headteacher of the primary school Katie attended, Westfield Primary School, said: "Katie was a kind and thoughtful child who was well-liked by both pupils and staff. She was hardworking and showed a particular talent for creative writing.

"Her death is a terrible loss which has deeply saddened our school community and we send our profound sympathies to her family."

"All members of our school are being offered emotional support at this distressing time."

Alness Drive is a quiet street lined with red-brick detached homes, lying to the south-east of the city centre.

On Tuesday morning, the grass track leading from the cul-de-sac to a playing field was cordoned off.

A white tent could be seen on the playing field beyond the cordon.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Ellis said officers were called to Alness Drive shortly after 4.30pm.

He said: "Officers attended and, upon visiting a scene nearby, they found a seven-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries.

"An ambulance attended and the girl was taken to York District Hospital, where she sadly died a short time later."

The York City and East neighbourhood policing team tweeted: "Difficult late shift for all York staff with tragic death of a 7 year old. Thoughts go out to family members."

Two police vans were parked outside a house believed to belong to the seven-year-old girl's family.

An officer was seen entering and leaving the property carrying equipment.

A family, who left a nearby house carrying flowers, said they did not want to talk but said they were close friends.

One woman who knows Katie, described the girl as  "lovely, really sweet".

She said: "She was lovely, really sweet, smiling, laughing, playing with her friends.

"She was really friendly, running around."

The 15-year-old arrested in connection with the incident remains in police custody. 

Police are appealing for witnesses who were in the area of Morrell Court, Bellhouse Way, Osprey Close and Alness Drive between 3pm and 5pm on Monday, who may have seen two girls aged 15 and seven to get in touch. 

Contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, speak to the Force Control Room and ask to be put through to Cleveland and North Yorkshire Major Investigation Team.