THE best friend of a 19-year-old stabbed to death at her home has described her as a "bubbly" person and a "brilliant" mother.

Elise Riley was with friend Sammie Laney just minutes before she was killed on Tuesday.

And the last picture of Elise with her pal, above, was taken a week ago before they went out for a meal.

The women, who knew each other from high school, had been out with Sammie's father Steve before the incident took place at a house on Kentmere Place, in Clayton.

Former Clayton High School pupil Elise says she is still struggling to come to terms with the death.

Both women were also friends with 19-year-old Hayley Wilton, who died two days before.

Elise, aged 19, of Langdale Road, in Clayton, said: "I'm still in shock and can't deal with it.

"I'll burst out crying one minute and be fine the next. I feel numb. It's so hard to explain."

The pair met at school around six years ago when Sammie moved to the area from Devon, where she grew up.

Sammie went back to Devon around a year after leaving school, later came back to Kidsgrove and then to live with her dad and sister in Clayton.

The teenager had an 18-month-old daughter, called Tori.

Elise, who runs her own market stall in Stoke, said: "Sammie and I had always kept in contact, but became close again when she moved back here.

"We saw each other every day over the last two weeks. I was with her all day on the day she died.

"We had gone to try to get a gym membership and to get some chips.

"She was a very bubbly person and a brilliant mum. Tori meant the world to her. Sammie's dad and a few of her other family members are deaf so she was teaching Tori some sign language.

"I don't know what I will do without her."

Elise, Sammie and Hayley were all in the same year at school and were part of a group who had a number of classes together.

Hayley, of Thames Road, Clayton, died suddenly on Sunday three weeks before she was due to give birth to her third daughter.

Elise and Sammie were fund-raising for a horse and carriage for Hayley's funeral.

Elise, who is now raising money for Sammie's funeral, added: "Someone else has taken over fund-raising for Hayley and I am going to try to do something nice for Sammie. Both of them were great at school.

"Sammie and I would often talk about when we were at school. She loved school and would say she wished we could go back and do it all again."

Other schoolmates and friends have been leaving tributes to Sammie on Facebook.

Tim Youd wrote: "I literally still can't believe what has happened.

"I will remember you from the fun and jokes we had at school.

"This should never have happened to you, you were always such a lovely girl."

Friends who wish to donate to the collection have been asked to contact Elise via Facebook.

A number of floral tributes have also been left by a tree near Sammie's home.

Tom Dalton, aged 19, of Attwood Rise, Attwood Street, Kidsgrove, has been charged with Sammie's murder.

He is due to appear at Stafford Crown Court on Monday.