A mother, whose daughter died after taking party drug MDMA, has made a plea for her friends to tell her what happened.

Kate McLoughlin, 18, was studying for her A-levels when her mother Pauleen found her body in her bedroom.

Ms McLoughlin said her family are desperate to know where her daughter had been and who she had been with in the hours before her death.

The teenager was found dead after experimenting with drugs on August 1, but her parents have only now requested help to put together a picture of Kate’s last day.

Ms McLoughlin, of Ore, Hastings said: "Kate's stepfather and I are devastated by the loss of our wonderful, clever, talented daughter. She had so much life in her and so much to live for. She had a glittering university future in front of her, now lost because of a misplaced temptation to try out recreational drugs that seemed to her to be 'harmless' and 'what everyone else her age was doing'."

Ms McLoughlin added: "She always took care of her friends and cared about their safety. We are sad that no-one seemed to take care of her on her last night and we appeal for anyone who saw her or who knows anything about where she might have been on the night of Saturday, 31 July, to contact us or the police.

"It will not bring back our beautiful girl but it will answer painful questions for us and her grieving friends."

Detective Inspector Emma Heater said: "Although Kate's death is not being treated as suspicious, not knowing where or who she was with on the Saturday night is of great distress to her family.

"I would urge anyone who was with Kate on the Saturday night or has any information to please come forward."

If you have any information about Kate's last movements please contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070 999 or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.