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16:23 GMT, Sunday, 27 July 2008 17:23 UK

Tribute after girl's wall death

Tributes and photo left at scene

Investigations are continuing after a three-year-old girl died when a garden wall collapsed onto her at Prestatyn in Denbighshire.

Meg Burgess's mother issued a statement describing her as the "most perfect daughter in the world".

Police said the large breeze block wall fell just before 1145 BST on Saturday, when the mother and daughter were walking along the pavement.

A joint police and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inquiry is continuing.

"Meg was a shining star to all who met her and would be sorely missed"
Meg Burgess' family

In a statement, read out by Meg's uncle, her parents Pete and Lindsay and young brother Wilson were said to be "horrified by this horrible, tragic event, that has affected theirs and so many other lives forever."

They said they were "deeply moved and overwhelmed by the level of support and compassion that has been offered freely from friends, relatives and neighbours alike."

Meg was described as a "shining star to all who met her and would be sorely missed."

Scene of collapse

She had been taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital where she was pronounced dead on Saturday.

Her mother Lindsay added in a statement: "Meg had a very special gift of knowing how others felt. We feel she was too pure to stay with us. She knew and had said she was going to die. We are grateful to have had her for the time we did."

It is understood Meg was walking past on the pavement in Ffordd Penrhwylfa with Mrs Burgess and younger brother Wilson just before 1145 BST, when a 6ft high temporary wall collapsed.

It is thought it had been built to hold back tonnes of excavated soil at a house under renovation.

Floral tributes, cuddly toys and a photograph were left at the scene.

The family, believed to have moved from the London area a year ago, added that it was awaiting the results of the joint police and Health and Safety Executive investigation into how the wall collapsed.

Det Insp Richard Jones of North Wales Police said structural engineers from the Health and Safety Executive would be examining the wall "to determine what was the cause of this horrific incident".

He said the main focus of the inquiry would be what caused the wall to come down.

Coun Sharon Frobisher, lead member for communities on Denbighshire county council said it would try to aid the investigation.

"The council will be checking whether there was planning permission for the wall," she said.

The council would also be looking to see if building regulations had been met, she added.

"There is absolute devastation for a small community like this," she said.

"Everybody is just so shocked. When it happened we knew a wall had fallen down but we didn't know the tragic circumstances until a bit later on.

"I think the wall has only been up about a month."



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North Wales Police
Health and Safety Executive
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