THE parents of a Headley Down teenager who died following an asthma attack have spoken to The Herald this week about their loss.

Katie Marie Ashmore Fanelli (14), who lived in Birch Road on the Heatherlands estate, suffered the asthma attack while on work experience at the Tesco supermarket in Aldershot on Sunday, June 13.

After being taken to a number of hospitals she finally lost her battle for life at St George's Hospital in Tooting.

Her parents, Vivienne and Pasquale Fanelli, have been overwhelmed by the cards and messages of support they have received from Katie's friends since her death.

"The cards have been flooding in, and fill up every shelf in the living room," Mr Fanelli said.

"She was an incredibly sociable girl who wanted to know and get on with everyone and she would always do what she could to help out wherever she went.

He added: "She always had a cheeky smile on her face, which will be sorely missed by her mother, myself and her brother Danny and sister Leah."

Katie's family and friends packed into All Saints Church in Headley on Tuesday afternoon for her funeral.

Flowers and gifts were laid on Katie's grave in the churchyard, including tributes from staff and fellow pupils at Mill Chase School in Bordon, where Katie was a pupil.

Many of her schoolfriends also attended the moving service, which included the song "My Heart Will Go On" from Katie's favourite film, Titanic.

Mrs Fanelli said she wanted to thank everyone who had helped to comfort her and her husband during 'this difficult time'.

"We just want to let them know that their help is very much appreciated," she said.

Katie worked occasionally with her mother at Grayshott Nursing Home as a kitchen assistant.

Mrs Fanelli said: "She liked to come along to the nursing home for an hour or two every now and then, and the people there absolutely adored her.

"She was very easy to get along with and everyone enjoyed her bubbly personality."

A spokesman from Grayshott Nursing Home said this week: "Katie was a lovely, bright and intelligent girl, and was liked by all the old people and the staff at the home.

"She was delightful to have around and she will be missed by everyone here."

Lyn Wheeldon, head of year 10 at Mill Chase School, described Katie as "a very nice young lady who was very popular and always happy".

Mrs Wheeldon said: "She was a very sensible, level-headed person who always tried her best at school and was always willing to tackle anything.

"It's been a huge shock to us and her friends are all devastated. It really is a tragic loss."

A spokesman from the Tesco store at Aldershot said: "Although Katie was only with us for a few days she still made some friends, who would like to extend their heartfelt sympathies to Katie's family".

A spokesman from the Asthma Helpline said deaths as a result of asthma had decreased considerably since the late 1980s.

He explained: "However the latest figures show that there were still 1,584 deaths in 1997.

"Asthma attacks can be triggered by a number of different things and it depends on the individual as to how they react to these."

He added: "Although fatalities are decreasing, there are still some cases where severe attacks cannot be treated."