Father's tears for dog-rescue girl in rail tragedy

Natasha Elliott died in hospital shortly after she was hit on a foot crossing just outside Morley station, near Leeds, on Sunday.

Yesterday her father Wayne Elliott was in tears as he described his daughter.

"She was always laughing, always smiling. She always made all her friends laugh," he said.

"When they were down she was always there – their rock to pick them up. Nobody ever had a bad word for her. She was just the happiest princess of my life. And she was my heart and soul and I lived solely for her."

Mr Elliott, of Morley, said his daughter had been preparing for her school prom and had got her dress and arranged hair and nail appointments. He added: "Now she's going to be buried the day before the prom."

Natasha's grandmother Jenny Elliott said: "She'll always be our little treasure."

Police believe Natasha was trying to retrieve her dog when she was hit by the 5.52pm York to Blackpool service at about 6.45pm on Sunday. The train was travelling at around 60mph.

The dog, a German shepherd called Zeus, survived the incident.

Inspector Glen Alderson, of British Transport Police, said an investigation was under way involving police and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

Mr Alderson said the foot crossing was in correct working order. However, local people questioned whether it is safe and whether a

bridge should be built instead.

Natasha was a pupil at Morley High School. She was studying for her GCSE exams and had dreams of one day becoming an interior designer.

Earlier this week headteacher John Townsley said: "Natasha was looking forward to going to sixth form and had a fantastic life in front of her.

"Her death is a profound loss to the community and we will all miss her immensely."

Dozens of messages have been left in tribute to Natasha on social networking site Facebook and memorial website Gone Too Soon. Many of them praised her bravery and selflessness in trying to rescue her dog.

Natasha's funeral will be held next Thursday at Cottingley Hall Crematorium, in Beeston, Leeds, at 1pm.