Schoolgirl dead, sister seriously ill

Louise and Erin Gilmour

A six-year-old girl has died and her 10-year-old sister has been critically injured in an incident at their home.

The body of Erin Gilmour was discovered at a flat in Union Street, Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire, at 1750 BST on Thursday.

Louise Gilmour, 10, is reported to be in a critical condition in hospital.

The girls' 36-year-old mother, who was in the flat, was taken to hospital where police said she was currently being kept under observation.

Louise and Erin were the best friends of my two daughters

Neighbour

Strathclyde Police officers said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Residents in Union Street reacted with a mixture of grief and horror to what had happened. Many began laying flowers outside the end of terrace building.

A 26-year-old neighbour said: "Louise and Erin were the best friends of my two daughters, who are six and eight years old.

"Louise was supposed to be staying over at our house last night, I sent my eight-year-old over there on Wednesday night to remind her.

"It was about eight o'clock. I just told her to put a note through the door telling Louise to remember to bring her toothbrush and a book."

Mothers and children laid flowers

The neighbour added: "My girl said the curtains were drawn when she went down there.

"I haven't told them yet what happened and I'm dreading it."

Outside the flat, distraught friends of the two girls laid handwritten tributes at the fence.

One of the cards said: "Erin, you are the bestest friend ever. I will miss you."

Another said: "Erin, you are so cute and so tiny, you are a good friend."

Staff at Stonehouse Primary School, which both girls attended, also reacted with shock to the news.

School support officer Mary Turley said: "We're absolutely stunned and very much saddened by the tragic events which have taken the life of one of our Primary Two children and left her sister in hospital.

"Our thoughts and our prayers are very much with Louise."

Louise was taken to Wishaw General Hospital and later transferred to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital.

A spokesman described her condition as "very serious".