WITH her winning smile and bright blue eyes, Kate Walsh was a young girl with everything going for her.

She was a talented flautist who harboured an ambition to follow in her father's footsteps and become a professional folk musician.

But the youngster's life was ruined by drugs after she fell for a heroin addict living at a rehabilitation centre near her Highworth home.

Her parents' worst fears were realised when their daughter's body was found in a derelict squat in Manchester Road, Swindon, on January 3.

Police believe she died from an overdose.

Her parents, Debbie and Anthony, of Eastview Terrace, Highworth, said they will remember Kate as a lively character with a gift for art.

Mr and Mrs Walsh tried in vain to help their daughter beat drugs.

They asked the police and Social Services to intervene because they feared the addict she was in love with was leading her astray.

But no one could help because Kate was 16, and a consenting adult.

Now they have launched a quest to change the law to allow the authorities to intervene to protect young people over 16 who are at risk.

Mrs Walsh, 40, who works as a post lady in Highworth, said: "We are trying to come to terms with the awful circumstances we find ourselves having to deal with.

"However, we want to find out why the system let us and Kate down so badly.

"We want to raise questions that are on our minds, and hopefully the answers will help stop other children becoming similar victims."

Mr Walsh, 45, added: "We keep asking ourselves why there appears to be no provision within the law to protect vulnerable teenagers in similar circumstances to Kate's."

Kate met her boyfriend while he was trying to beat his drug addiction at Gloucester House, a Salvation Army-run treatment centre in Highworth, when she was just 14.

The man, who was then 25, was ordered to leave the centre when staff became aware of the relationship.

Mr Walsh said: "We want to know why the centre's managers didn't make this known to us, as her parents, or the police or Kate's school when they found out."

The man is now believed to be in prison for theft.

Gloucester House declined to comment until staff had seen a statement prepared by Kate's family.

The rules have since been changed, to forbid residents from forming inappropriate relationships with people living in the community.

Mr and Mrs Walsh said that although they were aware that Gloucester House ran a service for alcoholics, they did not know people with drug problems were also living there.

Kate, who had a youngster sister and older brother, left the family home in March soon after her 16th birthday.

Her parents had no way of contacting their daughter, but in September they managed to track her down to a women's refuge in Swindon. The former pupil of Warneford School, Highworth, moved back home, and it was then that she admitted her drug problem.

Things got so bad that she asked to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act after taking an overdose.

She attended meeting of Narcotics Anonymous and also received support from Swindon's Stepping Forward drug treatment charity.

The last time her parents saw her was on December 22, when she left home.

Kate's headmaster at Warneford, John Saunders, said the whole school is shocked and stunned by what happened to the teenager.

"Our feelings are very much with the family," he said. "She was a lovely girl, always very lively and cheerful and very involved in the music and arts side of the school.

"She was keen on music, sang in the school choir and took part in several concerts and musical productions.

"She was also a member of the GCSE drama group, and performed in drama productions that the group put on.

"Kate's contemporaries have now moved on to college in Swindon and Cirencester, but there are many people in school who remember her, and we are all shocked and saddened.

"We try to make sure that all our pupils have a good understanding of the dangers of drugs, and we have regular lessons and talks from outside agencies as part of the regular school curriculum."

Anyone who saw Kate between December 22 and January 3 should call Swindon police on (01793) 528111.