THE GRIEF-STRICKEN parents of a 15-year-old schoolgirl found dead in her bedroom spoke last night of their shock at losing their "beautiful and bright" daughter.

Macclesfield High pupil Megan Gillan, who is thought to have been having a difficult time at school, died suddenly at her home on Flying Fields Drive, on Monday, January 19.

The terrible tragedy of losing Megan, who dreamt of becoming a midwife, has left her loving mum, dad, three older sisters, and her little nephews in shock, and her school friends devastated.

Mum Margaret, who works in A&E at Macclesfield Hospital, said: "Megan had everything going for her and had so much to look forward to in life. We were so shocked when it happened, we have been in pieces. She seemed fine at the weekend just before. We went shopping together on Sunday. It’s bad enough when someone dies but when it’s a shock it is so hard. She was very close to her family and so caring. Her nephew Charlie, who she adored, turned five on the day she died which was a tragic shame."

Her dad Mark Gillan, 53, a civic attendant for Macclesfield Borough Council, said he will always remember the terrible moment he found his youngest daughter.

"I went to wake her up at 7.30am and soon realised there was a problem. We called the ambulance and I tried to resuscitate her. The paramedics arrived within ten minutes but it was too late," he said.

Mark added: "Megan was full of life and always on the go. Her friend’s mum asked her the weekend before she died, ‘do you ever stop smiling?’. She was a bit of a feisty character at times, but was very caring, had her heart in the right place and knew right from wrong."

Megan, who dreamt of training as a midwife when she finished her GCSEs, had lived in Macclesfield for seven years, where she loved cinema outings with her friends, and had a crush on Manchester United footballer Ronaldo.

Margaret added. "She had her mind set on being a midwife. This would have suited her so much because she wanted to help people. We’ve fostered children and Megan, being our youngest, never had a problem. In fact, she always helped care for them."

Sisters Hayley, 29, Lisa, 27, Jessica, 18 and nephews Charlie, five, Lola, four, and Lily, one, will cherish their memories of Megan – including their last family holiday to Mexico in November, when she fulfilled her dream of swimming with dolphins.

To remember her at her happiest, Megan’s coffin at her funeral at the United Reformed Chuch, on Friday (January 30), was dolphin-decorated and mourners walked in to X-Factor winner Alexander Burke’s version of ‘Hallelujah’ – the last song Megan asked her dad to download.

"It was Megan’s day – a celebration of life," Margaret said. "She swam with dolphins on holiday in Mexico and loved it so we wanted something different on the day of the funeral."

Since her death, Megan’s schoolfriends have set up a special site, ‘R.i.p Megan Gillan x1993-2009x’ on social networking site bebo to say goodbye, which already has more than 2,000 visits – and tributes have poured in from her Park Lane school.

Macclesfield High headteacher Ged Ward said Megan’s tragic death had "shocked and saddened" the whole school community.

He said: "Megan was a beautiful, popular, bright girl, with a promising future ahead of her. Her attractive personality and sense of humour made her a favourite with staff and students alike. The tragic loss of such a talented student will leave its mark on us all, though the whole school community has rallied together to support one another. She will be missed by everyone, but especially by her many friends in Year 11. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to her parents and family."

Judi Scragg, Megan’s head of year, added: "When Megan started at Henbury in Year Seven she was a sensible, hard-working and helpful young girl who was full of fun and appeared to enjoy all aspects of school life. As she grew and matured, she developed into a beautiful young lady whose bubbly personality and zest for life made her a popular member of her form and year group."

Megan’s parents believed she was having some trouble at school.

In response, a spokesman from Macclesfield High School said: "Quite obviously we will be more than prepared to discuss her parents’ concerns at the appropriate time."

A police spokesman said: "At 7.50am on Monday, January 19, police and ambulance were called to a property just off Moss Lane, Macclesfield, following the death of a 15-year-old female.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and a coroner’s file is being prepared."

Students at Macclesfield High have already opened a ‘Book of Memories’ for Megan and a memorial assembly was held on Monday (February 2).