THE family of a girl killed in a rock fall at Staithes have described her as the "light of their lives".

Nine-year-old Harriet Emily Nicola Forster was visiting the fishing village with her family from Oxford when the accident happened at Seaton Garth at about 4.47pm on Wednesday.

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, including the Coastguard, the RNLI, ambulance, air ambulance, fire and rescue and the police, Harriet was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Harriet’s family said: "We cannot comprehend the enormity of this tragedy. Harriet was the light of our lives.

“We ask that you give us time as a family to support each other through our indescribable pain. Thank you."

North Yorkshire Police is compiling a report about the circumstances of the death on behalf of the coroner.

Anyone with information about the incident should phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option one, and speak to the Force Control Room, quoting reference number 12180146823.