A family devastated by the sudden death of their adored daughter have raised thousands of pounds for charity in her memory.

Lara Calthrop, 19, who lived off Nizels Lane in Hildenborough, died after she was hit by a train near the village’s railway station in the early hours of Friday, December 29.

The teenager’s tragic death prompted her family to set up a JustGiving page, which has already raised more than £10,000 for a young persons’ suicide prevention charity.

On the page the family says: "We lost our beautiful daughter, sister, grand daughter, niece, cousin and friend in the early hours of the 29th December 2017.

"She felt that the problems she was facing were insurmountable and the only way out was to end her young and wonderfully bright and talented life and walked into the darkness to meet her death."

"She felt that the problems she was facing were insurmountable and the only way out was to end her young and wonderfully bright and talented life and walked into the darkness to meet her death" - the family's JustGiving message

Signed by Ben, Debbie, (Lara) Mia and Dom, the statement continues: "As a family we had no idea that she was experiencing such difficulties and are left behind missing her desperately wishing we had seen a sign and been able to help.

"With this in mind we would like to help raise awareness of the terrible sadness that is teenage suicide and help prevent other families being torn apart by this tragic act. "

This week Miss Calthrop’s family released a new statement, saying: “When you read tributes in the press of a young person dying, your heart goes out to that family for their loss never imagining that one day you will have to write a tribute for your 19-year-old daughter who was so loved and who had so much to live for.

“Lara Calthrop was clever, interesting, kind, always smiling and adored by her family and friends. She has left a gap in our lives and our family of five will never be the same again and we miss her desperately.

“She had set off for university life in London to study English literature in September 2016 full of hope for the future.

"We knew she had become unhappy and disillusioned with her course but never imagined for one second that she would so drastically take away her own life or the extent of her depression.

“Lara Calthrop was clever, interesting, kind, always smiling and adored by her family and friends" - family tribute

“Although we ask for privacy at a very raw and emotional time, we do hope to raise funds for Papyrus in the hope that we can help at least another family from going through our pain and hope that in that respect, Lara’s death has not been meaningless.”

Papyrus runs a “hopeline” call centre for young people considering suicide to get in touch.

It is available on 0800 068 41 41 from 10am to 10pm on weekdays, 2pm to 10pm on weekends and 2pm to 5pm on Bank Holidays. Help is also available via the free Samaritans 24-hour hotline on 116 123.

An inquest, opened in Maidstone on Wednesday heard Miss Calthrop died from multiple injuries. A date for the full inquest has not yet been set.

The JustGiving page is available here