Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunshine

Alice Kelly was playing with friends close to a recreation field when the 50-year-old tree came down in strong winds on Monday.

A heavy part of the trunk collapsed onto the teenager and struck her on the chest.

Alice's mother, Katie Kelly, 38, ran to the scene of the accident from their home nearby and stayed with her daughter until emergency services arrived.

But they were unable to save the youngster who died shortly after reaching hospital.

Grief: Flowers left in tribute mark the spot where Alice Kelly, 13, was killed

Police have launched an investigation but refused to speculate on the condition of the tree or the weather conditions at the time of the accident.

Friends and relatives left tributes to the pretty blonde schoolgirl, who was known by her middle name of Mary, close to where the tragedy happened in Reinwood Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

The messages included one left by a relative which said: 'I will miss you loads. You have been a great friend.'

Another said: 'We love you always and forever. We'll miss you. Love, your best friends.'

Members of Alice's family, including her father, also gathered at the scene of the tragedy but were too upset to talk.

Standing watch: Police examine the scene where the teenager died

Residents living nearby reported hearing a loud creaking noise before seeing the tree fall at around 3.20pm yesterday.

Ethna Armstrong, 64, who was walking her dogs through the playing fields at the time, said she saw Alice running along the edge of the park to catch up with  two friends when a strong gust of wind broke the tree in two.

'She was just passing the tree when it fell onto her,' Mrs Armstrong said. 'She was trying to catch up with two other girls and the next thing I knew they were screaming.  

'I ran over and found her under the tree. It didn't seem like the tree had crushed her. It seemed to just hit her in the chest and some of the branches ended up on top of her, so I helped to lift them off.

'She didn't make a sound the whole time. She just kept clutching her little hand to her heart like there was something wrong.'

Tragedy: The girl had been playing near the tree by her home in Huddersfield

Pensioner Elaine Kidger, 77, ran out to help after watching the tree snap in half.

She and husband George, 80, said Alice had lived next door to them since she was a baby and grew up playing on the recreational field where she died.

'I was watching TV in my front room when I suddenly heard the creaking of the branches as the tree was splitting,' she said.

'I saw half of it fall to the ground and then I could just hear people shouting. I didn't see it hit the girl and I didn't know it had until I went outside. It was a terrible shock.

''She (Alice) was actually under the tree. There were some young girls around her and her mother came out and she was just in a terrible state.'

Emergency: The girl was rushed to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

Alice was then taken by ambulance to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where she died.

Engineers from Kirklees council cut down the remains of the tree and took it away a few hours later.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said: 'This appears to be a tragic accident and the coroner's officer has also been informed.

'At this moment in time we are not able to speculate in relation to the condition of the tree or the weather conditions at the time - those are still being investigated.'