A 13-year-old pupil at a Staffordshire school has been found hanged just three months after the suicide of a girl from the same school.

Michelle Stewart was found dead at her Stafford home by her father.

In March fellow classmate at Rising Brook High School in the town, 12 year-old Natasha Lake, was discovered hanged from a bunk bed in her bedroom.

The headteacher at the school, Mike Gledhill, spoke of his shock at the deaths which he said were an appalling double tragedy.

'Warm personality'

But he said they were not linked to bullying or work.

"Michelle was a lovely girl from a caring family, who worked hard at school and was popular with her teachers," he said.

Natasha Lake's body was found in a bedroom

"She had a warm personality and was liked by her fellow pupils, especially for her good, kind nature.

"Sadly hers is the second tragic death this year in the same class in year eight.

"Both were hard working girls who gained good marks in lessons.

"They did not seem to be under any pressure regarding their work."

After Natasha's death the school called in counsellors to help support pupils.

Mr Gledhill said: "We have continued to keep a close eye on year eight pupils and several contacts have been made with families where we felt students were vulnerable.

"Michelle did not seem to be one of the vulnerable ones, so her tragic death has shocked us all.

"At this moment our thoughts are for Michelle, her family and friends."

Condolence card

He said that both girls had good sets of friends and neither, to the knowledge of teachers, friends and parents, had suffered from bullying.

Michelle's friends have begun compiling a card of condolence for her family.

She had been pupil at the school for two years.

Michelle and Natasha took some of the same classes and mixed in some of the same circles but they were not considered to be close, the school said.

Helen Jarvie, of Staffordshire Police, said: "Police are not linking the two deaths. They are certainly not being treated as suspicious and inquiries are ongoing."

Detectives plan to question some of Michelle's friends in the coming days.

Michelle will be buried on Saturday with the school holding its own prayer service at a later date.

Natasha's mother Wendy Lake said she did not wish to comment.