POIGNANT floral tributes left close to the scene where six-year-old Alan Lock was found have described him as a “bright shining star up with the angels”.

Dave Gooderham

POIGNANT floral tributes left close to the scene where six-year-old Alan Lock was found have described him as a “bright shining star up with the angels”.

As a close-knit community struggles to come to terms with the tragedy, friends of Alan's grieving family laid a number of flowers at the scene where the youngster's body was found following an incident at an organised beaver scout outing.

One card read: “Darling Alan, we loved you like our own son. No words can describe how we are feeling. You mean so much to us, no days will ever be the same again.

“We will always love you forever. Love and miss you every day. Forever in our hearts. Naomi, Pete, Rhys, Phoebe.”

Another simply said: “You're now a bright shining star up with the angels.”

Writing on this website, Emma Byrom said: “Sharon, Alan & Adam, we are so, so very sorry and sad to learn of Alan's tragic and sudden death.

“Daisy loved Alan and has many happy memories particularly at playgroup. Nothing I can say will make any difference to your pain. We are completely devastated and sending you many, many hugs of love and sympathy.”

And Doreen Theobald said: “I am so sorry to hear about little Alan - my heart goes out to Alan's family. “He was such a happy little boy. All my family are thinking of you, our prayers are with you. We have known you all for such a long time and had some lovely holidays.

“Take care - we are here for you. So, so sad.”

Community leaders in the village of Acton, where Alan and his family lived, and Sudbury - where the tragedy unfolded - also spoke of their shock.

Chris Moss, chairman of Acton Parish Council, said: “It is just absolutely devastating that this tragic accident has happened and our thoughts and prayers go to the family and their friends at this time.

“It is every parent's worst nightmare and also awful for those who were at the scene - they must also be very traumatised. It is very hard for everyone and I am sure the community in Acton will pull together to offer every assistance to the family, should they ask for it.”

Mr Moss, who is also a church warden in the village, said he visited staff at Acton Primary School yesterday and saw many “on the verge of tears”.

Sudbury Town Council's town clerk Sue Brotherwood said: “It is absolutely heartbreaking and everybody is absolutely shocked by this tragedy. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the little boy's family.”

Residents were yesterday still coming to terms with the tragic death - which happened just yards from their back gardens.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “We heard children playing near the bridge but didn't think anything of it. The next thing we heard was sirens and we saw lots of police outside. We saw a woman being brought to the scene and she was hysterical. It was harrowing to see.”

Another said: “This is such a devastating thing to happen. We just wish we had been outside in our back garden as then maybe we could have done something.”