Lora Snelgrove was a lively, loving girl who had enjoyed swimming, cheerleading and spending time with her family.

But as a teenager she got into drugs and began the downward spiral which led to her death at the age of 25 after she fell ill while in police custody.

Lora’s family paid an emotional tribute to her this week, revealing that when she was 21 she had a son, Jayden, and they hoped it would be the making of her.

Lora and her family moved to Medway when she was about seven and lived in the Princes Park area, attending Lordswood Junior School and then Walderslade Girls School.

She was a keen swimmer and wore badges sown on to her costume with pride and was a member of the Medway Rockets Cheerleader Group, performing at shows and fetes.

Her family included dad Bob, who lives in Wiltshire, mum Yvonne, who lives in Princes Park, elder sister Maxine Burr, 43, younger sister Marie, 24, to whom Lora was especially close as a teenager, and brother Robert, 20.

She was also close to her cousin Josie Seager and she loved music, camping with the family in Dorset and meals out at her favourite eatery, Manor Farm, Rainham.

In her teenage years she was diagnosed with ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) which means she had behavioural problems although it didn’t stop her working with her mum at Lordswood Sports and Social Club, where she got on well with the customers.

Mrs Snelgrove, 60, said: “She loved it up there working with me. She would joke with the regulars and they loved it.”

Sister Mrs Burr recalled how Lora was proud to be her bridesmaid.

She said: “She loved to do her hair, and her make-up, it had to be just right. She took pride in her appearance and had nice clothes.”

She recalled that when Lora was younger, her pretty looks led to her being approached about a career in modelling.

Sadly while she was a teenager, Lora fell in with the wrong crowd and started taking drugs. Mrs Snelgrove said: “She was easily led and she was a bit of a teenage rebel.

Lora gave birth to Jayden in 2010. Her aunt Donna Seager, 50, said: “We thought Jayden would be the making of her. She loved him very much, but her lifestyle didn’t allow it.

“She knew he was safe here with her mum and the rest of the family and she had regular contact with him.”

Mrs Snelgrove added: “She was thoughtful and loving in her own way. She cared for us in her funny peculiar way. She also loved seeing her niece and two nephews.”

The family tried to help Lora turn her life around and revealed that in August, just two weeks before she died, she had gone into rehab in Wales.

Mrs Burr added: “Lora was ready to sort her life out and we tried everything to help her.”

However, she became ill while there and was taken to hospital where she was told she had a heart abnormality and she was discharged and came back to Medway.

Days later she was arrested and while in custody became ill again. Lora suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the intensive care unit at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Mrs Burr said: “We were all with her when she passed away and we were able to say goodbye to her.”

Mrs Seager added: “We all miss her and love her. She was funny. She would come out with the funniest of things. Lora was very protective of her family and friends too.”

“We thought Jayden would be the making of her. She loved him very much, but her lifestyle didn’t allow it" - aunt Donna Seager

The family praised hospital staff. After she died they gave the family a canvas picture of Lora’s hands and gave them Lora friendship bracelets so the family would be connected to her forever.

Jayden was given a special book to help him with his grief.

Mrs Snelgrove added: “They were amazing. We couldn’t fault them.

“The police have been good too. They realised something was wrong with her and got her to hospital. We are grateful for that as she could have died anywhere.

“The police have been keeping us up to date with everything since then too.”