THE last time Trudy Young saw her 16-year-old daughter Chelsea she thought she didn't have a care in the world.

But just hours later Trudy's world was torn apart when she returned home to find her daughter had ended her young life.

It has been a week since the vivacious dancer killed herself, throwing her family's world into upheaval.

But, rather than dwell on Chelsea's unexpected suicide, her family have asked friends to remember her as the bubbly, affectionate teenager she was.

Trudy, 44, of Stratton, said: "When someone dies people talk about them in the past tense - we don't want that because Chelsea will always be here in our eyes.

"We don't know why she did what she did but it's not how we will remember her.

"She'll always be the bossy, cheeky Chelsea we've always loved."

The teenager's funeral is yet to be arranged but Trudy says details will be posted on Chelsea's social networking page on Bebo.

She said: "Chelsea was beautiful, always made up, always perfect - I remember how I used to do her make-up for her and how the next time I do it will be the last."

Chelsea's father, Simon Jeremias, who lives in Birmingham, said: "Chelsea was my greatest achievement and now I feel like a piece of my heart has been stolen."

Chelsea's brother Ben and sister Kristy have set up a memory book for friends of the teenager to fill with their thoughts.

The family have also invited friends to sit in Chelsea's room before the doors are shut and sealed.

Chelsea's beloved cat Felix and dog Becky are a constant reminder of the void the teenager has left.

Ben said: "They've both been pining for her."

The 23-year-old marked his sister's death with a tattoo on his left forearm.

The tattoo simply bears her name, Chelsea May Smith, along with the dates documenting her short life.

Ben said: "We weren't just brother and sister we were friends - she was always looking out for me demanding to know who I was going out with.

"She was the real boss of this house, the head of the household and it's just not the same without her."

Kristy, 21, said: "We would tell each other everything. She was a madam sometimes and we'd row but five minutes later we were best friends again.

"We were shouting at each other one morning as I was getting ready for work.

"Chels shot down the ladder from my attic bedroom then pulled it out so I couldn't get down - she skipped off to school and left me for nearly three hours."

Kristy refuses to let the circumstances surrounding her sister's death mar her memories of her.

"She's left a huge void in our lives," she said. "But she will never be forgotten - she may not be here in body but she is in spirit and she'll be with us forever."

  • If you would like to leave a tribute to Chelsea, please do so below.