FRIENDS and colleagues have paid tribute to a "bubbly and lovely" teenage girl who died suddenly from a suspected food allergy.

Francesca Sanna, 19, of Fielding Lane, Oswaldtwistle, known to friends and family as Mimmy, developed breathing problems on Saturday evening.

Francesca's family, who own Franco's restaurant in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, said yesterday that she suffered from food allergies from an early age and also had asthma.

The family said they believe she may have gone into anaphylactic shock after eating something that triggered a reaction.

Her boss at Blackburn Chemicals, in Whitebirk Industrial Estate, where she had worked for just over a year, said that the company had lost "a lot of fun" from the office.

Philip Lamb, the company secretary, said: "No-one her has a bad word to say about her. We can't believe what has happened.

"It has been a terrible shock to us all.

"Francesca was keen to learn and a great personality.

"We only have 42 staff and we are a very close group. There have been a lot of tears."

Barry Burke, headteacher at Rhyddings Business and Enterprise College in Oswaldtwistle, said it felt as if they had lost "one of his own family".

Francesca attended the school until she was 16. Her mother Kim is a governor and brother Domenico, 22, is a support worker at the school.

Mr Burke said: "Staff are very tearful but we are trying to remember the gorgeous young lady that she was.

"It was a privilege to have known her.

"She was someone who always managed her allergies bravely and sensibly.

"She was so careful so the thought that it was her allergies that caught her out is so sad."

Francesca was also doing an accountacy course at Blackburn College one day a week.

College principal Ian Clinton said: "Staff and students at Blackburn College were saddened by the death of Francesca.

"She was an excellent student who showed great promise.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends at this time."

An inquest is due to take place to establish the exact cause of death.