THE mother of Imie Harrison, who died after falling into a canal, has paid tribute to her “princess” who “cared about everybody”.

Devastated Lisa Harrison, 44, has spoken publicly for the first time about her six-yearold daughter, who died after slipping into the Worcestershire and Staffordshire Canal at Wolverley Court Lock, near Springfield Park, on Tuesday last week.

Talking exclusively to The Shuttle, Mrs Harrison, who added she always called Imie “my princess”, said: “I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest. I miss the silly little things – it is so hard.

“I wake up in the morning and I expect to see her walk in through my bedroom door.

I sit on the sofa and I expect her to come through the door and sit with me. When I make a cup of tea, I expect her to ask me to pour her one.

“She was really, really lovely. She cared about everybody.

Even at school, from when she first started, Imie was the first one there if someone was upset. She was like everyone’s mother.

“She did have a cheeky, naughty side to her. If I told her not to do something, like not to play up the road, you can guarantee she would go up there. She wouldn’t let me go and get sweets for her – I had to give her the money so she could get them. She loved horses and having her nails done and she looked after her brother CJ as well.”

Family and friends are raising money via facebook group “Imie Harrison – final ride fund” to have a horse-drawn carriage at her funeral – details of which have not yet been arranged.

“She loved everything about horses”, added Mrs Harrison.

“We have got three horses and she loved them – she used to go and brush them. She loved ponies so we want that to be her last ride.”

Last week Imie’s headteacher at St John’s CE Primary School, Lawrence Gittins, described her as a “much-loved and talented girl”, who would be “missed very much”.

For more information or to donate to Imie’s last ride fund, visit facebook.com/ groups/ImieHarrisonFund