THE family of tragic teenager Heather Still have spoken of their devastation after she was killed when hit by a train at a railway station.

Heather, a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, died at the scene after paramedics raced to Whitecraigs Railway Station on Tuesday afternoon.

She lived with her parents and sister and last night her family said: "We are completely devastated at the senseless loss of our beautiful and much loved daughter and sister, Heather, and words cannot express our pain and despair.

"We would also like to thank everyone for their kind messages and support that we have received and also request that our privacy be respected at this incredibly difficult time."

The teenager attended Mearns Castle High School in Newton Mearns.

Headmaster Dean Smith said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic news and the loss of a bright and popular pupil, Heather Still.

"This is a time of profound sadness for our school community and we are concentrating on providing support to our pupils and staff who are understandably shocked and upset."

School friends comforted each other when they gathered near the scene.

Mr Dean and education officials delayed issuing a statement until staff had spoken to pupils.

The head teacher added: "We ask for privacy for the family and for the school to allow us to make sense of this loss. Our thoughts are with Heather's family."

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "We are treating the death as non-suspicious but investigations are ongoing.

"Specialist trained family liaison officers are helping the girl's family."

Pupils also took to social media sites to express their condolences and sadness at the tragic loss of a fellow pupil.

The train was the 2pm Neilston to Glasgow Central service.

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw, who lives nearby, said he was "saddened and shocked" to hear of Heather's death.

gordon.thomson @eveningtimes.co.uk