Girl found hanged with hair band

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The family of a four-year-old girl found hanged with her own hair band say their perfect life has been destroyed.

Paige Brown's father found the child in her bedroom at home near Folkestone, Kent, after she failed to respond when she was called downstairs for lunch.

She was pronounced dead on arrival at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, after resuscitation attempts failed.

Kent Police said the death was being treated as an accident and an inquest would be held next week.

Paige had tied her hair band to a hammock in her room, where her teddy bears were kept, while she was playing on New Year's Day.

You couldn't want for a happier child Mother Lorraine Ford

Her father, Phil Brown, who found her with the hair band around her neck, believes she was trying to swing from the hammock.

"I caller her and she didn't answer, then I called her again," he said.

"I think I knew there was a problem then.

"I legged it up the stairs, and that's where I found her - just hung there."

The family and paramedics from Kent Air Ambulance, which landed on the field opposite the house in Hawkinge, were unable to resuscitate Paige.

Her parents also have a two-year-old son.

"We were a perfect family," said Paige's mother, Lorraine Ford.

"You couldn't want for a happier child.

"I was saying before Christmas there is nothing else I want - now our perfect life is destroyed."

Police were called to the house in Hawkinge at 1230 GMT on New Year's Day.

"A four-year-old girl was found in her bedroom. Despite the best efforts of officers and crews to save her she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital," a spokesman said.