A TEENAGER has died suddenly while staying with friends at holiday cottages near Pickering.

North Yorkshire Police said Ella Batters, 18, of York, died tragically on Sunday morning while staying at Moor View Holiday Cottages.

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

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

"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.”