A TEENAGER from York has died suddenly while on holiday with friends - just weeks before she was due to start studies at Cambridge University.

Former Fulford School pupil Ella Batters, 18, died tragically on Sunday morning while staying at Moor View Holiday Cottages, near Pickering, said North Yorkshire Police.

A spokeswoman said the force was contacted just after 11am by the Ambulance Service, which was in attendance at the incident.

"Officers attended and sadly a young woman was pronounced dead at the scene," she said.

York Press:

"There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and officers are working on behalf of the coroner in order to establish the facts surrounding Ella's death."

Ella's family said in a statement: "We are all unquestionably devastated by the death of our beautiful Ella.

“Ella was a ray of sunshine, she was kind, intelligent and loving.

"She was a very unique young lady who was excited about starting Cambridge University and we are immensely proud of everything she achieved in her short life.

“Words cannot describe the heartache we feel for the loss of her precious life.”

The Press reported earlier this year how Ella had received an offer to study linguistics at Cambridge.

Tim Morris, director of sixth form and assistant head at Fulford School, said then that she and other students had all displayed a great deal of talent, resilience and focus, and were a credit to the school.

Headteacher Lorna Savage paid tribute this evening to Ella, saying: "Ella was a beautiful and amazing young woman and it was our privilege to work with her and to get to know her. She was a very talented and special young person.

"Ella had a very bright future ahead of her and she was looking forward to beginning her studies at Cambridge after the summer.

"She had many close friends in her time at Fulford and she touched and enhanced the lives of all who knew her."

In 2014, The Press reported how Ella was among dozens of inspirational young volunteers who had given their time to help others and who had been honoured at a special ceremony by York’s then Lord Mayor, Cllr Ian Gillies.

Fifty-three young people were nominated for the Lord Mayor of York Young Volunteers Awards, co-ordinated and judged by the Volunteering York Partnership, and supported by York CVS, City of York Council and employee-volunteering charity York Cares.

Of those, 37 were presented with a main award and 16 with a special award for going above and beyond what was expected of them as a volunteer, including Ella, who visited an elderly lady to help her with daily household tasks.

The Lord Mayor said then that it was 'quite humbling' to see such young people giving their time and doing something tangible for others.