Suspected Bullying After Pupil Found Hanging from Tree

A 14-year-old girl has been found hanging from a tree in a West Sussex park by a member of the public.

Police have named the girl as Belinda Allen, who was a student at Tanbridge House School in Horsham.
Officers were called to Church Lane in Southwater, West Sussex, on Tuesday night after a dog walker found her.

Belinda was later pronounced dead at Worthing Hospital and her family paid tribute to a "bright, bubbly, fun-loving and kind" teenager.

A family statement said: "Belinda was much loved by all her family and friends, She was bright, bubbly, fun-loving and kind. We are all going to miss her very much."

A police spokesman said: "Police do not consider this to be a suspicious incident. A report is being prepared for the coroner."

Jules White, the head teacher at Tanbridge House, said pupils had been given access to professional support but he was unable to say whether Belinda's death was related to bullying.

However it is believed friends claim that Belinda was bullied by classmates for dressing differently to the others. She attended Tanbridge House School, where another pupil Ben Vodden, 11, hanged himself just over a year ago after he was bullied on the school bus.

It is believed that close friends say she had been bullied for a year for being different. This, however, has not been confirmed by the school.

West Sussex County Council set up an anti-bullying task force after Ben's death and the school's website carries strong anti-bullying messages.

With thanks to the BBC bbc.co.uk/news for part of this news item.