The parents of the girl who died after she was stabbed on her way to school rushed to the scene but were “unable to make it” in time to say goodbye to their daughter, a local community worker has said.

James Watkins said the girl’s family is “devastated and in shock” at her death, telling the Mirror: “They are devastated and I would say, more importantly, in shock. I don’t think it feels real to them at the moment.”

A teenager has been arrested after being tracked down by police and it is believed at this stage that he may be known to her.

Mr Watkins founder of Mainz World, which offers crime-prevention projects for children and young people, said the family “are not at a stage yet” to be thinking of publicly paying tribute to the girl and that they are “just in shock and disbelief”.

He added: “I got a phone call from the police and came down, and it was here I spoke to the family. They received a call to come to the scene shortly after the incident happened. Unfortunately they [were not] able to arrive in time.”

Donna Murray-Turner, of community group Another Night of Sisterhood, said she was also there to offer the girl’s family support this morning. She told The Mirror: “Words like devastated and disbeliefs and shock are not enough.

“Imagine you got a phone call asking where you where you are, are you by yourself, get on transportation, then to find out that your child is gone. How would anyone feel?”

It is understood both community groups will be supporting the schoolgirl’s family and friends who were at the scene and witnessed what happened.