A TEENAGE girl was found dead in a quiet village following a house party.

The 17-year-old, from Lewes, was found at a house in South Street, Ditchling, shortly after 9am yesterday morning.

Paramedics were called and she was declared dead shortly after, at 10.30am.

Police last night described the death as “unexplained” and said a post-mortem examination would be held.

The girl, from nearby Lewes, had been at a house party in the home with a number of friends.

When The Argus visited yesterday morning, neighbours said the owners of the property had been away.

The road was closed to traffic as police cars and ambulances parked up outside the house.

The road remained closed for three hours.

Two police officers stood guard at the scene while paramedics went in and out of the property.

One nearby resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The first we knew about it was when we came out of the house this morning and there were police cars and ambulances in the road.

“We did not know what was going on and it is normally such a quiet village – you do not expect this sort of thing to happen, it is absolutely tragic.”

Another resident, who also asked to remain anonymous, added: “We did see a man come out of the property looking very distressed, he sat on the tailgate of the ambulance and had his hands behind his head.”

Reports suggest she had a cardiac arrest and that she was found by a friend.

It is believed the girl was at secondary school in Lewes but had since started her post-GCSE studies at Varndean College, in Brighton.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark O'Brien said: "This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the girl's family and friends at this sad time.

“A post-mortem will be held to determine the cause of her death, but until that time it will be treated as unexplained.”