THE parents of an eight-year-old girl are demanding answers after their daughter died of pneumonia 24 hours after being discharged from hospital.

Zoe Keeling was admitted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire on March 5 screaming in pain after a week of running a temperature and being sick.

Her parents Anita Wilkes and Paul Keeling say staff at the A&E department prepared her for blood tests but transferred her to the Cheethams ward before they could be taken.

They said they were told she was suffering from a virus and would recover within days, and so she was discharged at 4am on Saturday, March 7.

However, Zoe's condition worsened and she died at home in Meir Hay the following morning.

Anita and Paul say they are still in shock that their daughter died after being told her symptoms would only take a few days to pass.

They are now considering putting in a formal complaint to the hospital about the care she received.

Anita, of Vienna Way, Meir Hay, said: "If she had stayed at the hospital a little bit longer maybe she wouldn't be where she is today.

"She was just an eight-year-old girl, she shouldn't have died.

"Zoe just had no control of her body and I can't understand why no further tests were taken."

Leading tributes to the youngster, who spent most weekends taking part in swimming, drama and gymnastics, she added: "Zoe was an angel, a perfect kid.

"Everyone is devastated she has gone."

Paul, who tried to resuscitate Zoe as her symptoms worsened while waiting for an ambulance on the morning of her death, said: "She was very clever, loveable and liked her cuddles at night.

"Zoe's friends would say she was kind, caring and that she would always help them."

Her brother Chris Cuthbertson, a 23-year-old mechanical fitter, who lives in Bentilee, added: "She was very, very clever and a really nice person who always did well at school."

Sandford Hill Primary School closed for the day when Zoe's funeral took place and her classmates have created a memory box for her parents.

Headteacher Janet Warner said: "The school is devastated and our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with Zoe's family."

Signs of pneumonia include shivering fits, fever, pains in the chest and coughing.

Anyone can get it, but only around five per cent of people, or 66,000 a year in the UK, die from it.

A spokesman for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire said: "The staff at the hospital would like to express their sympathy to the family of Zoe Keeling.

"Any unexplained death in infant children and young people is investigated according to a nationally-agreed process.

"This investigation involves other agencies in North Staffordshire and runs alongside the coroner's investigation.

"A senior consultant within the hospital has already begun the process in order to understand all the aspects of Zoe's condition and her care.

"Once complete the results of the investigation will be shared with the family."

An inquest into Zoe's death has been opened and adjourned, detailing pneumonia as the cause of death.