A DEVASTATED mother has pledged to set up a trust to help young dancers train at a top London college in memory of her tragic daughter.

Dance teacher Evie Douglas, 21, took her own life after suffering from depression for several years.

The former Peebles school pupil succumbed to her illness before she was able to take up a postgraduate course at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Her grieving mum Freda, from Peebles, said: “I have a plan to keep Evie dancing forever.

“Evie was my only child and I’ve got no-one left to leave my money to now, so when I die it will go to set up a trust to offer scholarships to young people to enable them to study dance.” Freda is also determined to campaign to increase the public’s understanding of mental health issues.

“Evie had been suffering for a long time, probably right back to when she was a teenager, and I will work to raise awareness of mental health issues,” she said.

“Freda revealed that Evie had made an earlier attempt to end her life - after celebrating her 21st birthday with family and friends. And, after her death, it was discovered that Evie had bought a book and explored the internet to find an escape from her torment.

“I think she’s known for a long time what she was going to do,” said her mum.

“Evie was a perfectionist and it seems as if she researched it all carefully - she had a book that revealed the most effective ways of doing it.” Freda saw her daughter for the final time in the coffee shop at John Lewis department store in Edinburgh two days before she died.

“She read me the lyrics of one of her favourite songs, Desolation Row by Bob Dylan, and told me they were important - it was all very poignant,” she said The night before she died Evie went to a ceilidh and was taken home by Freda’s godson Chris.

“She had rocked the place but on her way home Chris said she seemed distraught,” she said.

“A random boy had blocked her from social media and it’s possible that triggered what she did.” Freda became concerned when several calls to Evie went unanswered and eventually she and her partner George decided to go Evie’s flat in Edinburgh. Evie’s dad Gordon and stepmum Jill were already driving up to Edinburgh to meet Evie and they all went to together.

“We had a spare key and the flat was in darkness when we went in. We thought at first that Evie wasn’t there,” she said. But then Evie was found lying on the floor in her bedroom.

“After that it was all blur,” said Freda. “There were doctors, police, CID and other people.

“All I do remember was that there was a song by Johnny Cash playing when we went in the flat. I never want to hear that music again.” Evie’s flatmate Beth Howe, a lifelong friend, had been away at the time.

“I heard what had happened the same night,” said a tearful Beth. “I had spoken to Evie in the flat that morning and she did seem down.

“I have known Evie ever since Primary 1 at Kingsland when Mrs Musgrave was our teacher. She was the most awesome friend. I miss her so much.” Evie’s family have asked for donations to be made to the mental health charity, MIND.

If you wish to help, send donations to MIND Fundraising, 15-19 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 4BQ (Please mention Evie’s name when donating directly).

If there is something troubling you, you can get help from Samaritans at any time. Call them on 08457 909090 for an immediate response.