Ambulance and air ambulance crews tried in vain to save the life of a 16-year-old schoolgirl who was stabbed to death at a house in Whetstone last week.

Nickola Lucas, from Wembley, was pronounced dead at the scene in Macaret Close which previously was home to EastEnders' actress Gillian Taylforth.

Mother-of-two Gurdeep Kaur, 36, of Macaret Close, Whetstone, appeared at Hendon Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with the murder of the teenager at Kaur's home on Wednesday evening last week.

She appeared in the dock, flanked by two security guards, looking tired and drawn. She kept her head down during most of the proceedings and did not speak at all, merely nodding when asked to confirm her name.

Eight members of her family and friends sat silently in the public gallery to hear the case against her. Kaur was remanded in custody and will reappear at Hendon Magistrates on Thursday (February 14).

A man and a teenage girl, who have not been named, were also arrested on Wednesday last week but released on police bail.