THE mother of a school girl found dead at her home has paid tribute to her “beautiful” daughter following an inquest into the death.

Harriet Nicol, 16, from Billericay who went to St Martin's School in Brentwood, was found unresponsive at her home in Billericay by family members on Sunday April 23.

Paramedics rushed to the home and she was rushed to Basildon Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The inquest which took place today at Chelmsford Coroners Court heard that she took her own life.

The coroners court heard how Harriet had been diagnosed with depression just two weeks before her death, but that she had not begun taking medication at the time of her death.

Denise Nicol, 50, a teacher at Mayflower School, Billericay described her daughter as beautiful and talented.

She added: “She was very popular and was into dancing and netball and she was well known around Billericay.

"It wasn't just one thing, it was several things that led to her death. It was the stress at school, there was anxiety with friends, the usual teenage stuff.

"There wasn't bullying as such, it was just unkindness and the usual bickering."

Ms Nicol is now hoping to run the London Marathon next year for the mental health charity, Mind.

An online funding page set up in Harriet’s memory has now raised more than £8,000.

To donate visit www.gofundme.com/raising-money-for-suicide-awareness