A FAMILY has spoken of their heartache following the sudden death of an 18-year-old York girl who was holidaying in North Yorkshire.

Ella Batters was staying at Moor View Holiday Cottages near Pickering at the weekend with friends when she suddenly died.

North Yorkshire Police were contacted by the Ambulance Service just after 11am on Sunday, July 16, to attend the scene where sadly Miss Batters was pronounced dead.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and officers are working on behalf of the coroner in order to establish the facts surrounding the young woman's death.

In statement, the family of Miss Batters said: “We are all unquestionably devastated by the death of our beautiful Ella.

“Ella was a ray of sunshine, she was kind, intelligent and loving.

"She was a very unique young lady who was excited about starting Cambridge University and we are immensely proud of everything she achieved in her short life".

“Words cannot describe the heartache we feel for the loss of her precious life.”