THE legacy of a "bright, brave and beautiful" 18-year-old lives on as she continues to inspire people to look out for others - despite her life being cut tragically short.

The deaths of Skye Mitchell and Caitlin Huddleston in July shocked Millom and left the community reeling.

The charity founded in Skye's honour, A Skye Full of Stars, enjoyed huge success at its first event last month, helping the town to come together in the wake of the tragedy.

Having captured countless poses and memorable moments in her life, photographer Milton Haworth praised the beauty queen for continuing to inspire the town.

He said: "She was a fabulous kid. She was bright, brave and very beautiful. She was so much fun to be with and she had a great sense of humour.

"She was just so selfless. Everything she did was for someone else and I was so pleased to see everyone coming together to get the charity going and make the fashion show such a success.

"Because she was so popular in every aspect of her life, I think anything that brings people together for a good cause has got to be a good thing."

Earlier this month, Sharon Fry, Miss Mitchell's mother, announced the charity would look to help young people in the area achieve their dreams.

The fashion show at the Beggar's Theatre, held two years after Skye organised her own event, raised almost £2,000 for the charity.

Mr Haworth said: "It's all still tinged with sadness. It's good to see everyone come together and see people enjoying themselves, but it would've been so much better if she'd was still here to do them with us.

"I just wish none of it had been necessary. Something good has to come out of it.

"If youngsters can benefit from the charity for years to come, then her legacy can live on."

Mr Haworth had been due to resume his work with Miss Mitchell the day after the accident.

He said: "She would always ring me up and I'd go and take some pictures of her. I'd always try to promote any event or cause she wanted to get going.

"The sad thing is she was due at my house the day after the accident to do another photoshoot.

"She wanted to cut her hair to donate it to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs for girls without hair.

"Poignantly, they did take her hair after the accident and it went to make a wig for a child, so even after her death she's looking after other people."

Skye, who worked tirelessly for charities throughout her life, also launched her own anti-bullying campaign with the help of Mr Haworth.

At her funeral, her aunt Sheelah Wilson called her a "photographer's dream".

Mr Haworth said: "The photo of her anti-bullying campaign went all around the world and on national TV.

"It's become an iconic picture of her. People in Australia have seen it. She was so great to work with and she'd always take direction very well.

"I loved working with Skye and her aunt mentioned that I was her favourite photographer in her eulogy. I really welled up and my Adam's apple swelled to 10 times its normal size."

The former Millom School pupil had been due to study broadcast journalism at Salford University from September, and compete in the upcoming Miss Cumbria competition.

Part of Team North, Miss Mitchell had been competing in beauty pageants since she was 13.

Mr Haworth said: "One of the many events I covered with her was the Miss South Lakes final. Her lifelong friend Ellie Dobson was first runner-up and Skye was over the moon for her.

"That was the sort of person she was. She was always looking out for others.

"The very first time she went into a competition she looked as if she'd done it a thousand times before. She had no fear of being knocked back. She just jumped straight in.

"I was a bit surprised when I found out it was her first one because she had so much confidence about her."