Boy, 15, found dead in Barnsley woods

Friends of the teenager, who has not been formally named, said his death had shocked the area where he lived, in Elsecar, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Police were called to the small wooded ravine, which is between Elsecar railway station and a large playing field, close to a skate park, at 8.30pm yesterday.

Officers have not released the cause of the boy’s death but said they are not treating it as suspicious.

Youngsters who gathered at the scene said the teenager was a regular in the wood.

One boy, who visited the scene with his mother, said: “It’s just terrible.

“He always knew how to have a laugh.

“When people were upset, he always cheered them up.

“He would come down here every day.

“We would meet up and have a laugh and stuff.”

Flowers were pinned to a tree at the side of the ravine.

More were laid at the base of another tree, where a police cordon had been placed last night.

A note with one of the floral tributes said: “You always will be in my heart. I love you and I will miss you loads. Sleep tight.”

The boy’s friends have also expressed their feelings on tribute websites and Twitter.

One message said: “We was close friends and always had a laugh, don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “South Yorkshire Police were called at 8.30pm after an incident in a wooded area in Barnsley.

“Emergency services arrived at the scene off Millhouses Street in Elsecar and shortly afterwards a local 15-year-old-boy was pronounced dead.

“Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.”