POLICE are treating the death of a four-year-old girl in a Kent village as a tragic accident.

Paige Brown was found by her parents, Phil Brown and Lorraine Ford, after she hanged herself while playing at her home in Hawkinge, near Folkestone.

She had been playing with her teddy hammock on New Year’s Day when her hair band became caught round her neck and the toy.

Police were called the house at about 12.30pm.

Despite the attentions of the Kent Air Ambulance, neither its paramedics nor staff at Ashford's William Harvey Hospital could revive her.

Police spokesman John Green said a post-mortem was held on Thursday and an inquest would be opened in Ashford during the next few days.

He added: "Her death is not being treated as suspicious and it was a tragic accident.

"Our thoughts go out to the parents and family having to deal with this tragic occasion."