The devastated parents of a Colchester schoolgirl who fell to her death from a multi-storey car-park have told of their loss.

Kevin and Sue Burgess, of Prince Albert Road, West Mersea, issued a statement following the death of their daughter Amy, 16.

It said: "It is so hard to put into words our feelings about the sad loss of Amy. She was a country girl who loved outdoor life. She was a very sensitive girl who will be greatly missed by everybody who knew her."

Amy, a year 11 pupil at Philip Morant School, fell from the NCP car park in Nunns Road, Colchester, at 4.30pm on Thursday, half an hour after she was unable to take her first GCSE exam, a German oral, because of nerves.

Floral tributes were laid at the scene over the weekend but have since been moved to the school reception area where they have been placed alongside a photograph of Amy and a book of condolence.

One hand-written message on the floral tributes read: "Sorry I didn't get to know you better."

Another said "I will always love you. I'm never going to forget you."

Her classmates attended the comprehensive on Saturday morning for a special memorial service and sat their first written GCSE exam yesterday morning.

Because they are on study leave they had not been in school on Friday morning when staff broke the news in a special assembly.

Amy, who was due to sit ten GCSEs altogether and was expected to pass them all, moved to Colchester at the age of three.

She went to Stanway County Primary School before transferring to Mersea Island School when her family moved.

She was described as a "lively and intelligent" girl whose main loves were horses and reading.

She was very artistic and felt strongly about environmental issues.

Tributes - flowers at Nunns Road car park where Amy, above, died.</STRONG

Picture: STEVE ARGENT

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