HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a brave 11-year-old girl who died after a long battle with leukemia.

Family, friends and teachers have been left devastated by the death of Caitlyn Rio Edwards, of Garden City, described as being “loved by everybody”.

The Mold Alun pupil who fought the bone marrow disease for a number of years, died on Monday.

She had undergone treatment at Alder Hey hospital throughout her illness.

Ioan Huws, Caitlyn’s head of house at Mold Alun, said: "We will treasure all our memories of Caitlyn. From day one she made a superb impression with her positive, friendly and cheerful nature. She was simply delightful, and she will never be forgotten by her many friends and the whole Alun school community."

Headteacher Ashley Jones said: "Everyone here at the Alun school extends our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Caitlyn's family at this difficult time."

Sealand councillor Christine Jones said: "Everybody's devastated. She was such a gorgeous little girl. I just feel for her parents. She was such a bright, sweet girl.
“Everybody loved her. She's been a little star and she's been so brave. It's tragic, it's just so sad."

Tributes have been pouring in to a Facebook group set up in her memory which has more than 1,300 members.

Rachael Forster wrote: “You will never know how many people's lives you touched in such a short period of time. Your bubbly, infectious smile. Your strength in life.
“You have been taken away at such a young age. You are going to be missed, but not forgotten, every day.”

Nicola Lightfoot wrote: “You will be sadly missed and remembered so fondly by all of us on the ward who had the pleasure of knowing you. You had the most amazing smile in the face of all the adversity you faced in your short life.”

A Facebook group has also been set up to hold a two minutes’ silence in memory of Caitlyn at 2pm on Monday, July 11.