SADNESS and shock mixed with anger this week after a suspected drugs overdose killed a Galgate schoolgirl.

Although police have yet to confirm the details, it is believed that Jade Slack, aged just 10, met her death after taking five strong 'Ferrari' ecstasy pills at her friends' brother's home.

Jade's mother and father, Beverley and Simon, paid a touching tribute to their late daughter on Wednesday.

Released via Lancashire Police, it read: "Jade was a loving and kind daughter who would do anything for anybody.

She was full of love, always happy and laughing.

"She had many friends and everyone who met her loved her.

We are devastated by what has happened and cannot believe she has gone.

"We keep expecting her to come walking through the door at any moment.

Only last week she was winning races at the school sports day.

She was our little angel and always will be."

Attention has focused on a house in Salford Road, close to the village's post office where Jade, of Meadow Park, is understood to have been playing on Sunday afternoon when she took the pills.

The front of the house has become a shrine to Jade's memory, with flowers and tributes left by friends from the nearby school, Ellel St John's, which she attended.

Camera crews have crowded around Jade's home, school and the house where she is believed to have taken the fatal pills.

At the school, parents were invited to attend a special assembly and service on Monday morning.

The school's head teacher, Barbara White, spoke of the fun-loving girl who was involved in talent shows and sports as recently as last week.

A Home Office pathologist carried out a post-mortem on Sunday night, and toxicology tests are also being carried out.

Police say they have 'reason to believe' that the pills found in a search of the Salford Road house, and on the person of one of those arrested, were ecstasy.

That house was closely guarded and police patrols stepped up as tensions rose in the village.

Three people questioned over Jade's death have been bailed to other addresses in the area.

Police will not be drawn on what, if any, charges the three will face.

The results of toxicology tests are expected to take some weeks.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on Tuesday.