The family of a 17-year-who who tragically died after suffering a rare blood clot have thanked everyone who tried to save her life.

Charlotte Porter, from Allington, a pupil at Maplesden Noakes School in Maidstone, died on Monday March 29, after suffering from a deep vein thrombosis.

She had complained of pain and swelling in her leg. Her teachers offered to drive her home, but she got a lift home with friends.

Her mother, Beverly, took her straight to Maidstone Hospital, but Charlotte collapsed while waiting for the results of blood tests.

Doctors gave her immediate medical treatment, but she died.

Her father, Trevor, said: "We know that everyone at the hospital and the school did everything they could for Charlotte. We cannot praise them enough. There was a nurse who was due to go off duty, but she refused and stayed with Charlotte."

Mrs Porter said: "She was quite a strong character and always had a grin on her face and was lively and bubbly. You knew when she was around.

"It still feels like she is going to come home. You look at the clock and expect her to tap on the door and see her big grin, looking for tea and biscuits."

Mr and Mrs Porter said Charlotte had developed a caring nature for someone so young. She had recently applied to become a blood donor and had persuaded her mother to give up smoking.

A tribute page set up to Charlotte on Facebook has attracted more than 1,000 members and her friends are planning tribute events including a memorial wall at her school and planting trees in her memory.

Maplesden Noakes head teacher Jane Prideaux said: "All the staff and governors of the school are thinking of Charlotte’s family at what is a difficult time.

"She was a lovely girl, very bubbly and very well thought of. She made an amazing contribution to school life through her art, photography and cheer leading.

"She will be very sadly missed."

Coroner's Officer Rick Watkins-Pitchford confirmed Charlotte died of natural causes. According to the Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Campaign, DVTs are rare in young people and usually happen in people aged 40 and over.

Read a full tribute to Charlotte in this Friday's Kent Messenger.