Tributes To Teenager Sophie Leigh Balmer

18 year old Sophie Leigh Balmer died at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital on Sunday after becoming unwell. The cause of her death is under investigation and a post mortem has yet to be concluded but police believe the teenager may have taken a green "rock star'' ecstasy tablet.

They have issued an alert over the possible dangers of the pills. In a statement issued through Merseyside Police today, Miss Balmer's family said: ``Sophie Leigh was a beautiful talented girl - a free spirit. The whole family are devastated that our baby's life can be so cruelly taken away. ``We would like to say thank you to everyone who has given us support at this sad time and would ask that we be given time to grieve with our family and friends in private.''  

A police spokesman said: ''Detectives believe that the deceased may have taken a green coloured 'rock star' ecstasy tablet shortly before she died and as a precautionary measure they are warning people not to take this type of tablet.'' 

Tributes to the teenager were paid on Facebook and Twitter by friends and family. Her cousin William Burgess wrote on Twitter: ''You have left the biggest hole in our family, such a big personality. Can't believe ur gone. Sophie Balmer best cousin in the world.'' He added: ''Whenever I look up to the night sky and see the brightest star I will always think of you cuz.'' Friend Nicola McKeever wrote on Facebook: ''Soph was always the one to mellow everybody out and had the biggest heart ever, just so chilled with everything and didn't have a care in the world.'' Lily Francesca Harrison wrote: ''I wake up and find out the tragic news about Sophie Balmer. I can't believe it. Sophie, you were a beautiful, talented and wonderful young girl. Your smile could light up the world, and now you'll be doing the same when you're looking down on us as the brightest star in the sky. R.I.P. Sophie, I'm going to miss you.'' 

Earlier this year a drug dubbed ''rock star'' sparked a series of police warnings in Scotland when seven people were taken to hospital and one died after allegedly taking the tablets which were being sold as ecstasy. The Scottish pills were described as yellow or red and were also said to have carried a star logo. Strathclyde Police said at the time that while the exact contents were unknown, they could contain a cocktail of different substances.