A Snaresbrook school paid tribute to pupil and staff member who tragically died within a year of each other at a charity ball on Saturday.

Forest School pupil Aashi Sinha, 18, died suddenly in May from heart failure and long-serving staff member Tracey Alves lost her battle with cancer in August 2012.]

Students held a two-minute silence and memory service for Aashi following her death.

Classmates called her “truly special girl” inside and out who “lit up every room she walked into”.

Charities Cancer Research UK and Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) were chosen in their memory.

A staggering £9,000 raised by the ball at the school, in College Place, will be split equally between the two.

CRY representative Emma Jackson, who was told she had a condition putting her at risk of sudden cardiac death aged 13, spoke at the event.

She said an estimated 12 young people die suddenly from undiagnosed heart conditions in the UK every year.

There were also performances from the school Big Band and Fusion dance group, charity auction and raffle.