A TRAGIC Isle of Wight schoolgirl who died last year weighing just three-and-a-half stone had been suffering from a brain tumour, it has been revealed.

An inquest will be held later this year to determine the exact cause of 12-year-old Charlotte Collett's death.

Hampshire police have confirmed no one will face charges in connection with the tragic death of the youngster from Well Road in East Cowes.

Charlotte died on July 9 last year from bronchial pneumonia - a complication associated with severe illness. She was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Newport but efforts to revive her failed.

Police investigating the circumstances surrounding the 12-year-old's death interviewed the youngster's former teachers at Archbishop King Middle School in Newport.

The pupil had been taken out of school by her mother, Katrina, on May 17 last year to be educated at home.

Charlotte lived with her mother and three sisters aged 11, 17 and 22 at their East Cowes home and had not attended school for two months before her death.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "This has been a very thorough inquiry conducted over several months and has required an input from a number of experts, particularly from the medical profession.

"A comprehensive file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for advice, which included substantial medical evidence."

Police confirmed Charlotte's mother, Katrina, and her solicitor had been advised of the outcome of the police inquiry, codenamed Operation Armour and led by Det Insp Clive Merrett.

Detectives said a 46-year-old Island woman who had been on police bail throughout the investigation had now been released.

The full police file would be passed to the coroner for an inquest.

Today the Crown Prosecution Service said its lawyers had given detailed consideration to the findings of the police investigation but had concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

Crown prosecutor Alastair Nisbet told the Daily Echo: "We were asked to advise on whether or not there should be a prosecution and the case did not meet our test.

"It was felt there was insufficient evidence to support a realistic prospect of conviction of any person."

A spokesman for the Isle of Wight Council said that social services had conducted a review into the circumstances surrounding Charlotte's death.

He added that the ongoing review would continue once the results of the inquest into her death emerged later this year.

He said: "The Isle of Wight Council is aware that the Crown Prosecution Service has decided not to commence a prosecution against the mother of Charlotte Collett.

"It is matter of record that Charlotte died on July 9, 2002 as a result of a brain tumour. Charlotte's tragic death has had a considerable impact on her family.

"Charlotte and her family were not known to the social services directorate prior to her death.

"Both social services and education directorates have worked closely together to ensure that appropriate services and support are provided to the family throughout this difficult period.

"However, in order to preserve confidentiality and protect the family's privacy, we are unable to comment further on the individual circumstances of this matter."