A teenage girl who died after she fell under a train was described as "kind, thoughtful and spirited" by her grieving family today.

It is thought the 16-year-old, said by friends to be a student named Megan Moore, slipped and fell between the moving train and platform.

Horrified witnesses, who said the teenager was returning home after a night out, said she ran alongside the train after getting out of one of the carriages.

Her parents Lorraine and Howard and brother Ryan said: "We would like to thank everybody for being so kind and supportive at this sad and difficult time.

"She was a fantastic daughter and sister, a kind, thoughtful and spirited girl who was blossoming into a young lady.

"She will always be loved and missed by her family and many friends."

Crews from Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue and South East Coast Ambulance were called to Angmering Station, near Littlehampton, on Saturday night.

An ambulance spokeswoman said the teenager was confirmed dead at the scene.

A 19-year-old, who did not want to be named, said he saw his friend fall.

He said: “She got off the train and started running and then she just suddenly slipped.

“She was wearing high heels and she fell in the gap between the train and the platform. I don’t know for what reason she was running.

“At one point she was literally in front of me and then seconds later she was on the track.

“Everyone had their head in their hands. Everyone was crying and screaming.

“Her best mate was just screaming. It was horrific. She was utterly distraught.”

He added: “I think she was with her best mate and they had just gone into town or had maybe been to a party.

“I spoke to her mate literally just before that happened. It was really bad. She had so many friends as well.

Just from her Facebook page you can see she had so many.”

Flowers and tributes to Megan were left at the station by friends and family last night.

One said: “Megan, my best friend. I miss you so much. Rest in peace cheeky. I love you so much.”

Another read: “You’ll never be forgotten. Lots of love.”

A dedicated Facebook page called Rest in Peace Megan Moore was also set up hours after the incident.

One friend has written: “You will be missed by so many people. Rest in peace angel.”

A spokesman for British Transport Police said it is not treating the incident as suspicious.

He said: “Shortly before midnight on Saturday, November 21, we were called to Angmering Station where a person had fallen under a train and suffered fatal injuries.

“The full circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated but it is not being treated as suspicious.”