A POPULAR teenager from Pinvin collapsed and died after getting up to dance to her favourite song.

Seventeen-year-old Claire Stones was enjoying a night out with friends in the early hours of last Wednesday when she collapsed.

Although Claire had a heart condition, her parents Peter and Rose said their daughter's death came as a great shock.

Mrs Stones said: "Claire was born with a heart condition and was in and out of hospital a lot, but we really thought she was winning. She never moaned about her condition and was always more concerned about other people. It never stopped her doing anything and we never had to wrap her in cotton wool. Her friends said she was about to dance to her favourite song when it all happened."

Family friend Kerry Daffin, aged 30, said Claire was like a second mother to her children Sophie, seven, Tom, five, and baby Joe. She said: "I am going to miss her so much, she was such a big part of our lives. She had a loving, kind and caring nature, she would have been a wonderful mother and a fantastic teacher."

Claire was with some of her friends from Pershore High School, where she was studying for A-levels, when she died. Claire, an older sister to Chris aged 13, had been looking forward to studying teaching at university so she could work with youngsters. "She loved children, she was always babysitting for somebody and had been doing work experience at a local nursery," said Mrs Stones. She added that some of Claire's organs had been removed to help save others. "It was what she would have wanted," she said.

Mrs Stones added that the family had been overwhelmed by all the support they have received. "We never really realised how much people thought of her, it is like the whole village is in mourning."

Since her death, Mr and Mrs Stones have been inundated with cards, flowers and poems and the high school's sixth formers have been given the day off to attend her funeral at Pershore Abbey at 3pm tomorrow.

Before going to the high school, Claire had been educated at Pinvin first and middle schools. She had also been a member of St John's Ambulance, which her parents said was typical of her wish to help others.

Mr and Mrs Stones have asked that all donations be made to the Birmingham Children's Hospital Heart Unit, which had looked after Claire throughout her life. Cheques can be sent via Hill's funeral directors at Defford Road.