Girl, 4, hangs herself with hairband 'as she copies TV cartoon'

Phil Brown and Lorraine Ford, 26, tried desperately to save four-year-old Paige when they discovered her in her bedroom but were unable to revive her.

Paige had recently watched a scene in which a character was swinging around with what looked like a rope attached to his neck.

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She was with her grandmother who said the programme was either Dora The Explorer or Go Diego Go. Mr Brown, 33, said yesterday: "She can't be certain which one because she watched both with Paige.

"She even said to Paige at the time, 'You must never do that'. But no one could have foreseen what has happened. We are all absolutely heartbroken."

Paige was playing alone in her room at the family home in Hawkinge, near Folkestone, Kent, when the hairband became caught on a hammock where she kept her cuddly toys.

Her parents became worried when she did not reply after they called her for lunch on New Year's Day. They went upstairs to check and found her hanging with the hairband round her neck.

They called the emergency services and tried to resuscitate Paige before an air ambulance arrived, landing in a park near their home.

Despite the efforts of medics on board, she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

Go Diego Go is about a boy who jumps, swings and sings in English and Spanish during his adventures.

Dora the Explorer features a young girl and her animal friends in a series of scrapes.

Both are shown on the digital channel NickJr, part of the Nickelodeon Group.

Mr Brown, who works for a vending machine company, also has a two-year-old son Kailun with Miss Ford, an administrative officer.

"Paige was the most beautiful, loving and caring girl you could ever have wished to have," he said.

"She was a bundle of joy who lit up every room she walked into - slightly mischievous but the most intelligent child I have ever known.

"We just don't know what we will do without her."

He has not been able to tell eight-year-old Daniel, his son from a previous relationship, the sad news.

"They spent a lot of time together, it's the hardest thing I will have to do," he said.

Miss Ford added: "Paige was just a great girl who lit up our lives."

She had just started at Churchill Primary in Hawkinge, where teachers plan a memorial service.

A post-mortem examination was held yesterday. The date for her funeral has not been set but Paige's family want mourners to wear pink, her favourite colour.

A spokesman for NickJr said: "Our deepest sympathies are with Paige's family. All NickJr programming is made with the greatest care and attention, especially for pre-schoolers."