FAMILY and friends of an Abbeydale toddler who died tragically on the way to her first holiday have paid touching tribute to her.

Ellie Conlon, three, of Vernon Close, was on the way to Brean Sands with mum and dad Sheryl and James Conlon and brother Brendan, five, when she choked on her food and died.

Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, devastated grandma Tina Elliot said she was still struggling to come to terms with Ellie's death on Saturday, July 15.

She said the family had stopped for a meal on the way to the seaside and excited Ellie had been rushing her favourite meal of sausage and chips when she choked.

Her parents tried to revive her but she died in hospital later that day.

Mrs Elliot said: "She was always bubbly and bouncing around, she was a happy little girl.

"She loved playing outside, especially in her little motorised car."

And Ellie's cousin, Tara Cook, 20, said the tot had also loved football and had often been on the sidelines when she played for Redditch VC on a Sunday afternoon.

"She watched the World Cup and she was still saying 'Come on England' even after they lost.

''We just all really miss her,'' added Miss Cook.

Her team mate and close family friend, Lyndsey Ross, 19, said: "When I play football again, I will always hear Ellie calling my name because I know she will still be watching us from a place where she will be loved and cared for."

Meanwhile, next door neighbours Angela and Jo Ferris, who have known the family for two years, said her death was heartbreaking.

"She was so funny, she would come out all dressed up, she would knock on our door to tell us where she was going - we were more extended family than neighbours," they said.

"She got on great with all the kids and she was really close to Brendan - for a brother and sister, they were so close.

"You couldn't ignore her, she was always there, she had the face of an angel but she had a bit of the devil in her as well."

A funeral will be held tomorrow at 12.30pm at St Stephen's Church.

Redditch VC are also planning to hold a charity match dedicated to Ellie's memory later this year.