Girl, 15, is charged with murder after seven-year-old girl died from having her throat cut two weeks

· A 15-year-old girl has been charged with the murder of Katie Rough, seven

· Her mother was seen running towards where she lay fatally injured in York

· Katie's parents, Alison and Paul Rough, were seen being consoled by family

· A fortnight earlier, Katie had been a bridesmaid at her mother's wedding.

A 15-year-old girl was charged with the murder of a seven-year-old girl in York.

Katie Rough was found bleeding to death around 90 minutes after she finished primary school at 3pm on Monday.

Her mother Alison Rough, 38, collapsed and cried: 'No, no, it's my little girl.' Katie was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

Less than a fortnight earlier, she had been a bridesmaid at her mother's wedding.

Police charged the 15-year-old with murder and possession of an offensive weapon. She will appear before magistrates in York at 10 am today.

Katie's grandparents laid flowers at the scene.

Their note said: 'Night night my darling princess Katie. Love Nana and Grandad.'

Neighbours said Katie was a delightful child and her distraught family released a picture showing her smiling in a school dress.

Dog walkers are believed to have come across Katie lying on the grass just yards from a quiet cul-de-sac in York at 4.30pm on Monday.

Witnesses gave traumatic accounts of how Katie's parents, Alison, 38, and her new husband Paul, 34 were quickly on the scene and watched in horror as the emergency services fought in vain to save their daughter.

They said Mrs Rough shouted 'she's killed her' while her husband was slumped against a wall in despair.

Rob McCartney, who lives in the adjacent cul-de-sac, heard Katie's mother shouting 'Help! Help! Get an ambulance.'

He said he saw a child 'lying on the field' with two police officers attending to her.

'I turned around and saw the mother was in a state of great distress, crying and shouting out for her daughter. It was very upsetting,' said the 50-year-old consultant engineer.

'She was moving back and forth between the playing field and the street and was very distraught. Her husband or partner then arrived and put his arms around her trying to pacify her but their distress was obvious, it was terrible.'

Another resident said: 'The mother was on her knees in the middle of the road, crying.'

Katie was put into an ambulance on a stretcher while wearing an oxygen mask.

Mrs Rough is believed to have travelled to the scene by car.

The semi-detached family home on the Foxwood estate is half a mile away.

Police have appealed for people who saw two girls in the area to come forward. The girl who has been charged cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Another resident of the street said: 'I arrived in my car behind the mother. I wasn't quite sure what was going on, it wasn't until I spoke to the police that I found out.

'The mother was on her knees in the middle of the road, crying and saying things. It was quite distressing.'

Two police vans were parked outside a house belonging to Katie's family.

Mrs Rough has three older children from a previous relationship and Mr Rough is a father-of-two.

They had been in a relationship for years but only married in the local registry office on December 28, 2016.

Katie's aunt Sarah Nockels, 37, said: 'We are all just absolutely devastated. We just need to be given time to grieve.

Katie Rough was found bleeding to death around 90 minutes after she finished primary school at 3pm on Monday

Christina Mercer, who lives next door, said Katie was 'lovely, really sweet'.

She said she had lived next door for around six months and said they were a 'lovely family'.

Ms Mercer, 24, a college administrator, said: 'She was usually playing at the front in the garden or round the back of the house playing with some friends.

'She was lovely, really sweet, smiling, laughing, playing with her friends. She was really friendly, running around.'

She said the family were 'really quiet' and 'great neighbours'.

Ms Mercer said police arrived at the house at around 5pm on Monday. She added that the girl's death was 'really shocking'.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers arrested a teenage girl following the incident, which happened close to a property in Alness Drive, York - a cul-de-sac lined with detached houses.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Ellis read a police statement at Fulford Road police station this morning.

He said the 15-year-old remained in police custody and officers were carrying out house-to-house inquiries. She was charged with Katie's murder.

Mr Ellis said: 'Specially trained officers are supporting the victim's family at this extremely difficult time for them.

'Clearly the circumstances require the investigation to be conducted in a particularly sensitive manner.'

North Yorkshire Police tweeted on Monday: 'Difficult and tragic shift.

'Our thoughts and sympathy are with the parents and family involved as well as colleagues who did all they could.'

The York City and East police team also tweeted: 'Difficult late shift for all York staff with tragic death of a seven year old. Thoughts go out to family members.'

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

Police taped over the number plate of a black Peugeot 206 car which has been at the scene overnight.

The car appears to have been hurriedly parked right at the entrance to the footpath which has been sealed off by police tape, leading to the forensics tent.

A police spokesman said: 'Police are investigating the death of a seven year old girl in York.

'Police were called shortly after 4.30pm on Monday, January 9, to an address in Alness Drive, York.

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

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

Tracey Ralph, headmistress at Westfield Primary School where Katie was a pupil, 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.'

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