Pretty Tiffany Auld, aged 13, stepped from behind an ice cream van into the path of another vehicle, believe police. They are calling for witnesses to come forward.

Tiffany, of Milton Road, Hoyland, suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead just over an hour later at Barnsley District General Hospital.

She was due to sleepover with three other girls at pal Courtney Draisey's home in nearby Millhouses Street – where tragedy struck just after 6pm last night.

Her sobbing friends today told how they watched in horror and a neighbour described how he helped as a paramedic battled to try to save her life.

Read tributes and leave your own message for Tiffany in our book of condolence, click here

Today the garden fence was covered in floral tributes and toys, with sympathy cards and notes.

On a wall below, friends had poignantly placed the sweets which Tiffany had just bought from the ice cream van.

They were returning to play on swings at the Forge, a playing field on the other side of the road.

Police believed she stepped into the road from behind the stationary ice cream van and into the path of a white Vauxhall combo van, which was travelling towards King Street, on Friday at 6.02pm. She was taken to hospital and was pronounced dead at 7.10pm.

Friend Courtney, 14, said: "Tiffany was the last of us to get served by the ice cream van. I just remember looking back and I saw her being thrown through the air. It was horrible. I thought I was going to collapse. We were all just screaming and crying.

"We were supposed to be going to Meadowhall the next day to get some clothes for a dance routine we were doing at school. I can't believe she's gone. I've know Tiffany for a few months and we were good mates. She was always happy and laughing. She was a great friend."

Jackie Laver, Courtney's mum, sobbed: "We picked up the money Tiffany had been carrying. I've put it in a little bag. I'm sure her mum will want it – because, with the sweets, it was the last thing she was holding.

"I've got Tiffany's overnight bag of clothes which she had brought for the sleepover. I haven't seen her mum and dad yet. But what can you say? We feel so deeply for them. We've been in tears."

Devastated friend Becky Uttley, 13, who was also due to sleepover, said: "Tiffany was happy all the time. She was funny, bubbly and very pretty. We're all so upset."

Shaun Barnard, 27, a telecommunications engineer, lives next to road incident in Millhouses Street. He added: "She was in a bad way. I got there first. I heard an almighty clatter, looked out of the window and saw the driver of the van with her. He was in pieces.

"I've had some first aid training. But there wasn't much I could do. I shouted for somebody to call an ambulance, I got a blanket from a neighbour and I kept talking to her. She wasn't conscious. But the paramedic arrived and he worked hard to try to save her life as her friends were screaming and crying. He did all he could. It was awful. It will stay with me forever."

Tiffany went to St Helen's RC Primary School and moved to Wath Saint Pius X Catholic High School, before moving recent to Kirk Balk School, in Hoyland. She was an accomplished dancer and well liked by teachers and pupils there.

Her loving family have received many messages of support and a special school assembly is expected next week ahead of the funeral arrangements.

She was not officially named by police on the night but, within two hours of the tragedy, tributes were being paid on social network sites, including MSN Messenger and Bebo.

Anyone with information about the incident is being urged to call the South Yorkshire Police Witness Helpline on Sheffield 0114 220 2970.

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