An inquest heard a heartbreaking tribute from the parents of a girl who died after falling on to a railway sleeper in a school playground.

Freya James died after she was knocked on to the sleeper by another pupil, who was playing British bulldog in the playground of Trafalgar Junior School in Twickenham on February 14.

At her inquest at West London Coroner's court today, a statement from her parents, Nick and Aneeke, was read and told how the eight-year old loved life and lived it to the full.

It said: "Freya was a breath of fresh air. She was a beautiful girl with a sparkle in her eyes and an intoxicating smile.

"Whatever she put her mind to she succeeded in.

"At school she was extremely hard working and always up for another challenge.

"She enjoyed reading and wrote beautiful little stories.

"She adored her younger brother and was a proper big sister to him."

The court heard that Freya had gone to school that day excited and was looking forward to a trip to Germany the next day to visit her grandparents.

She kissed her parents goodbye and they said the next time they saw her she was fighting for her life.

Her parents said: "We did not get the chance to say goodbye or tell her how much we loved her.

"The next time we saw her she was dead.

"It's an image you can't erase from your minds.

"It's the most devastating news that changed our lives forever.

"Her brother is lost without her. He's lost his sister and best friend something you can never replace.

"We have lost our beautiful baby the most precious thing we could ever lose."

The inquest continues.