Tributes have flooded in after a schoolgirl died from strep A.

The 12-year-old was a pupil at Hove Park School in Hangleton Way and was taken to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, The Argus understands.

Experts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Brighton and Hove City Council are working with the school to provide advice on necessary public health actions and that accurate information is shared with the community.

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove, said he was “deeply sorry” to hear about the girl’s death.

He said: “My heart goes out to her family, friends and school community who will miss her so much.”

Dawn Barnett and Nick Lewry, councillors for the Hangleton and Knoll ward - where the school is located, said they were “very sad” by the news.

Cllr Barnett said: “It is a great tragedy, and I sympathise with the family.”

Cllr Lewry also said he was saddened by the news and said: “I do feel that the government should get on board and start doing something about it.

“There’s not enough antibiotics around, and the government should get on and get them supplied.”

Argus readers also expressed their sorrow at the girl’s death, describing the news as “heartbreaking” and sending love to her family and friends.

As of Monday, 26 children in Sussex were infected with the illness, but that figure is now understood to be higher.

The death of the schoolgirl in Hove brings the total number of child deaths from strep A to 16.

Earlier this week, health secretary Steve Barclay said that checks within the Department of Health have not revealed an issue with the supply of medicines, despite claims by pharmacists of shortages in access to antibiotics, including the liquid version of penicillin - which is often given to children.

Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to deadly diseases.

While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, the bacteria can sometimes cause a life-threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.

The chance of catching or spreading the illness can be reduced by washing hands frequently with soap and water, covering mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, and binning used tissues as quickly as possible.