MEMBERS of Katie Rough’s family have given their first interview since the seven-year-old was killed in York.

Katie was found in January with serious wounds in a field off Alness Drive, in Woodthorpe, and died later in York Hospital.

Paul and Alison Rough appeared on BBC’s Look North tonight to thank the local and international community for supporting them.

Alison said: “We have had a lot of support from the local community, but also all over the world hundreds of letters, messages, people have just been so kind and we just want to say thank you.”

Speaking to Harry Gration, the pair spoke of shy, loving Katie, and how they had managed to find consolation.

Alison said: “We’re coping day by day. Sometimes it’s minute by minute. We’re sticking together.

“We’ve got each other and a good family network. We sort of bounce off each other.”

Alison and Paul said the support from the York City Church and the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu had been a huge help since Katie's death.

Looking back at Katie’s life, they described how she would spend her weekly pocket money on teddy bears, but her pink rabbit was her favourite.

Alison said: “Katie was amazing. She loved her family. She was shy with other people, but with us she was sassy at times, just your typical seven-year-old girl.”

A fun day will be held at Acorn Rugby Club on June 9 from 5pm, which is a way for the community to remember Katie.

A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named due to her age, denies murdering Katie and will go on trial at Leeds Crown Court in July.