A HEADTEACHER has paid tribute to a popular 13-year-old boy who was found hanged at his Essex home.Dean Hunt was discovered after his apparent suicide in Festival Gardens, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, near Tiptree, early on Wednesday evening.

By Roddy Ashworth

A HEADTEACHER has paid tribute to a popular 13-year-old boy who was found hanged at his Essex home.

Dean Hunt was discovered after his apparent suicide in Festival Gardens, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, near Tiptree, early on Wednesday evening.

Despite desperate attempts by emergency services to resuscitate the youngster, he was declared dead at the scene.

Yesterday, Nick Hammond, headteacher of Thurstable School in Tiptree, said: “Dean was a popular Year Eight student with a really pleasant manner and we remember his friendly greetings and 'see you later' at the beginning and end of lessons.

“Both pupils and teachers enjoyed his dry sense of humour and friendly banter.

“Dean was a sensitive boy with the imagination to produce interesting and well thought-out creative writing.

“He was also very enthusiastic about physical education and sport and played regularly with a number of friends for a local community football team.

“Dean was a popular student who made friends easily and although the whole school are shocked and saddened by his death we are fortunate to have many happy memories of Dean.

“The whole school community at Thurstable School wish to extend to the family their sympathy and sadness at the death of such a likeable young man who had so much to offer.”

Essex Police have confirmed that they are not treating the teenager's tragic death as suspicious.

“Police will liaise with Her Majesty's coroner's office and a report will be prepared for an inquest,” a spokesman said.

A spokesman for Essex Ambulance Service said the thoughts and sympathies of the paramedics who battled to save Dean were with his family.