AN 18-YEAR-OLD York woman who died suddenly on holiday was 'one of life's beautiful people,' her former employer has said.

Heather Brown, owner of Browns of Heslington, said everyone working at the delicatessen in Heslington had been 'absolutely devastated' by the death on Sunday of Ella Batters.

She said Ella, a former Fulford School pupil who had been due to start studying linguistics at Cambridge University this autumn, had been working full-time at Browns for the past year.

"We cannot believe what has happened," she said. "She was working last Friday before she went away at the weekend. Everyone is absolutely devastated.

"She was one of life's beautiful people. She was always happy and smiling, and would make people smile."

Former Lord Mayor, Cllr Ian Gillies, who during his term of office in 2014 presented Young Volunteers Awards to dozens of inspirational young people, including Ella, for going above and beyond what was expected of them as a volunteer, has also paid tribute.

He said the young people, including Ella, were a credit to their families and their city.

Ella died while staying with friends at Moor View Holiday Cottages, near Pickering.

Police have said there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and officers are working to establish the facts surrounding her death.