A FELIXSTOWE family was in mourning today after their eight-year-old daughter died after suddenly passing out at her home.Little Stevie Mayes, who lived with her family in Walton, Felixstowe, was taken ill late on Saturday night.

A FELIXSTOWE family was in mourning today after their eight-year-old daughter died after suddenly passing out at her home.

Little Stevie Mayes, who lived with her family in Walton, Felixstowe, was taken ill late on Saturday night.

Her parents rang the ambulance service and reported that she had passed out and was not breathing.

Ambulance officials feared the girl may have suffered a cardiac arrest, but the cause of her death will not be known until a post mortem is held.

Today her schoolfriends were informed of the tragic news of her death and a special assembly was held.

Stevie was a pupil at Causton Junior School in Maidstone Road, and had previously been at Maidstone Infants, in the same street.

Causton head teacher Paul Rooney paid tribute to Year 4 pupil Stevie, who he described as a "lively and chatty, lovely eight-year-old girl".

"She was a very popular little girl and I know Diane Squirrell, her class teacher, enjoyed having her in the school this year. We will all miss her greatly."

Mr Rooney said the school was very shocked. Children had been told in their classes and in the morning assembly there had been further time to reflect on Stevie's death and to provide support for children and staff.

"We are all deeply shocked by this tragic loss. We have offered Mr and Mrs Mayes and their family our heartfelt sympathy," said Mr Rooney.

"The teachers told all the pupils in the school the very sad news and our assembly provided us with the opportunity to reflect on the sad loss that we all felt, and also gave us the opportunity to offer children and staff the support they will need."

He had contacted the local education authority about counselling services.

Stevie's parents had visited the school today and Mr Rooney said they "were very strong, a real inspiration to us all".

A spokeswoman for the East Anglian ambulance trust said a category A 999 call had been received at 11.30pm on Saturday.

"We received a message to say that an eight-year-old female had passed out and was not breathing," said a spokeswoman.

"A Felixstowe crew were assigned to the call and arrived in eight minutes. The girl was taken to hospital and was there within 20 minutes."

The coroner has been informed. An inquest is expected to be held.