The mother of one of the teenage girls who jumped to her death from a bridge in an apparent suicide pact has spoken about her loss.

Collette Bysouth said she is struggling to understand why her daughter, Neve Lafferty killed herself alongside 14-year-old Georgia Row who attended the same residential school. Her family believed that the troubled 15-year-old was making good progress and expected to have her home for Christmas.

Neve Lafferty's mother described her relationship with her daughter as extremely close and despite all the negative issues that plagued her eldest child's life she said their relationship never changed.

Neve Lafferty and Georgia Rowe, leapt more than 100ft from the Erskine Bridge, near Glasgow - hours after spending a "happy" weekend with relatives. Neve, from Helensburgh and Georgia, from Hull, met eight weeks ago when they arrived at the Good Shepherd Centre, a residential school located a few miles from Erskine Bridge. The two girls were among nine live-in residents at the open unit.

Neve was mourning the death of her boyfriend, who died earlier this year, when she committed suicide on Sunday. Colette Bysouth said her daughter Neve had been "very troubled" but she had started to turn her life around and her family had never given up on her.

In a statement she said: "Neve is my first born and contrary to what has been reported already, we were extremely close. I love my daughters with all of my heart and regardless of all the negative issues that plagued my eldest daughter's life, this never changed. Never. They are my world.

"There are no words in this universe to describe how we feel, but now I can honestly say I now realise exactly how Neve was feeling since the death of her boyfriend Johnny.

"For a child to feel like this is the worst and cruellest emotion to experience and a very difficult one to live with.

"I just wish she had opened up more and accepted the extent of counselling that she needed."

Ms Bysouth said Neve had "experienced some very unpleasant and frightening things in her short life" and had seen her father injured following a confrontation with another man.

The statement continued: "Myself and all of Neve's family worked extremely closely with the departments for the best interests of a child that became very troubled. It was heartbreaking for all of us, but never did her family stop trying."

She said the question of blame was "the last thing on our minds" and Neve had made "much positive progress" in many areas of her life.

The statement continued: "The staff and Neve had devised a plan of action to make it possible for her to be home by Christmas. Neve had felt it was the next step in her recovery and something that she really wanted to do. Believe me, we were all delighted and excited.

"The fact that Neve decided to end her life during a positive and happy time in her life just goes to show how devastated she really was, deep deep down.

"That spur of the moment decision is something we will never be able to understand and come to terms with. We have to accept that it is what she wanted, to be with Johnny again."

Speaking about Georgia, Ms Bysouth said: "I had only met Georgia once before and she seemed a really sweet young lady, full of smiles. I am truly, truly sorry that she did this.

"My heart goes out to her family and friends and I would just like to say from all of Neve's family how sorry we are for their loss. We know exactly how they feel and you wouldn't wish this on your worst enemy.

"Our girls will be sorely missed every day and every minute of our lives. God bless our girls."

Ms Bysouth said the family wished to be left alone to grieve.