The parents of a five-year-old girl, who died after becoming trapped by the tide on mud flats, have said their daughter "brought joy to everyone she met".

Lelaina Hall became stranded by in-coming waters during a day on the beach at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.

She was airlifted to hospital in Weston-super-Mare on Sunday lunchtime but died hours later.

Her estranged parents, John and Caroline Hall from the St John's area of Worcester, led the tributes on Monday to their "fun-loving girl".

Lelaina was out walking with her family

"Lelaina will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

"She was a kind, caring, fun-loving child.

"No-one could put into words how we are all feeling at the moment."

Jacqueline Ludlow, Lelaina's headteacher at Oldbury Park Primary School in Worcester, said everyone there was "very saddened" by her death.

"She will be greatly missed by her classmates and her teacher."

Lelaina got into difficulties while out walking on the beach at low tide with her mother, her mother's boyfriend and his two children.

She was spotted in the mud along with her mother's partner about a mile-and-a-half from the shore by a beach warden who immediately alerted coastguards.

It is believed her mother's partner had been trying to rescue the youngster when he became stuck.

Safety review

He was winched to safety by an RAF helicopter.

It took the crew several minutes to spot Lelaina, who was found about 250 yards away in the water, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Visitors walking on the beach on Monday said there were no signs on the mud flats warning visitors of the dangers.

Scott Sweetman, who witnessed the rescue on Sunday, said: "When I found out it was a little girl it was quite shocking for the thought that it could've been us.

"We were walking down there, there were no signs to tell us not to."

Sedgemoor District Council, which is responsible for safety on the beach, said it was launching an internal review of its procedures following the tragedy.

John Blake, the council's corporate director, said officials would consider whether tougher safety measures were required.

A post-mortem is due to be carried out on Tuesday and an inquest is to be opened on Wednesday.