A 10-year-old girl found hanging in her bedroom died as a result of a "tragic accident", police said on Sunday.

Natasha Holmes-Smith was understood to have been found hanged with a dressing gown cord at her home in Leach Road, Bicester, Oxonfordshire on Saturday afternoon.

Paramedics were called to the address shortly before 1215 GMT after being called the girl's 14-year-old brother.

Detective Inspector Peter Coleman, of Thames Valley police, said: "Officers are currently treating Natasha's death as a tragic accident.

Family counselling

"We have spoken to both Natasha's family and her headmistress at her school.

"There is nothing to suggest that Natasha was unhappy or had any reason to take her own life.

"We will also seek to put the family in touch with the relevant support and counselling agencies as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened."

Natasha was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but failed to regain consciousness and died less than an hour after she was found.

A police source said she was at home with her elder brother, eight-year-old sister and a friend of the brother when the tragedy occurred.

Her parents were not thought to have been at home at the time.

Natasha attended the Brookside Primary School in Bucknell Road, Bicester - a statement from the school is due to be issued on Monday morning.