A "bubbly" teenage girl has died after her body rejected a kidney transplant donated by her father.

Heather Worrell, 13, of Appleford Road, Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon, had been optimistic about having a transplant after suffering from cystic dysplastic kidneys.

But nine weeks after the operation, carried out in April at Guy's Hospital, London, the Larkmead School pupil lost a battle against infection.

Her mother, Moira, 44, said Heather was looking forward to her operation, which had been given the go-ahead after her father, Bob, 52, was found to be a match.

Mrs Worrell said: "She had to have a lot of medicine but it didn't bother her at all. It kept her going and she was actually quite strong and full of life. "She was doing really well and when she was 12 doctors decided that she could have a transplant.

"They just couldn't fathom out why the kidney was rejected, but she was put on anti-rejection drugs, which lowered her immune system, and then she caught aspergillus.

"No-one noticed until her sight started to be affected. It was just too late and in the end it spread to her head and she lost the use of everything.

"She was very brave. She was always very cheerful and always had a big smile on her face." Mrs Worrell said the whole family, including Heather's brother, Robbie, 15, and sister, Imogen, seven, missed her smile.

Heather died on Thursday, June 6. Her funeral will be at 2.15pm tomorrow at Oxford Crematorium.

The family are inviting people to make donations to the Kidney Patients Association, through Edward Carter funeral directors, 107 South Avenue, Abingdon, OX14 1QS.