BBC children's star Mya-Lecia Naylor dies aged 16

BBC children's TV star Mya-Lecia Naylor has died suddenly at the age of 16.

Mya-Lecia, who appeared in CBBC shows Millie Inbetween and Almost Never, died on 7 April after she collapsed, her agents A&J Management said.

CBBC said she was a "much-loved part of the BBC Children's family and a hugely talented actress, singer and dancer".

A&J Management said she was "hugely talented and a big part of A&J" and that they would "miss her greatly". It is not yet known how she died.

CBBC announced the news on its website, where young fans shared their memories of the actress.

Tributes have been paid to the teenager, who starred as Fran in two series of Millie Inbetween, about two sisters whose parents have split up, and Mya in Almost Never, about a fictional boyband and rival girl group Girls Here First.

She played the lead singer of the girl band, and said in a recent interview that she'd always wanted to sing as well as act. She also said she had some "amazing projects" coming up soon.

Image copyrightBBC/THE FOUNDATION/GRAHAM HUNTER

Image captionMya-Lecia, left, had been in the cast of Millie Inbetween from its first series

Alice Webb, director of BBC Children's, which includes CBBC, said news of Mya-Lecia's death had left her team "distraught and so terribly sad".

"She has shone so brightly on our screens, both in Millie Inbetween and Almost Never, and it's unthinkable that she won't be part of our journey going forward," she said, describing the hugely popular actress as "a real role model for her young fans".

Almost Never posted a tribute on its Instagram, saying their thoughts were with her family and friends.

Emily Atack, who starred with Mya-Lecia in Almost Never, said her co-star was a "beautiful and talented girl" who was "a complete joy to be around".

She said she was "so shocked and sad" to hear of her death.

And child actor Oakley Orchard, one member of The Wonderland in Almost Never, wrote in an Instagram story: "Rest in peace to my little pink wafer. Absolutely devastated, will miss all the fun times we had together.

The actress with her grandmother, Geraldeen Beggs died on April 7

Mya-Lecia with her father, Martin Naylor,

Mya-Lecia Naylor got her first big break on the hit comedy show Absolutely Fabulous (she appeared on the show when she was just a baby)

Read more from BBC News

My view: That's so sad, she was a beautiful and talented girl, RIP.

Sorry, Google ADs are off until 1st of May.