POLICE are investigating the sudden death of a 16-year-old Winchester boy at his home.

They were alerted at 12.44am yesterday by ambulance staff who had been called to a house in Greenhill Road, Fulflood, where the youth was found collapsed by a member of his family.

He was taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, where he was pronounced dead at 1.55am.

Police were not releasing the name of the youngster - a pupil at the city's Westgate School - yesterday.

A post mortem was being carried out last night to determine the cause of death.

One neighbour told the Daily Echo that a police van first came to the house on Thursday evening about 10pm more than three hours before the emergency services were called again.

She says she heard loud shouting coming from the house and saw a young girl leaving.

The neighbour was then woken up when the ambulance and police returned to the road shortly before 1am yesterday.

"It is dreadful, what a waste of a young life. It is very sad when you have got children of your own," she said.

Another neighbour said: "You could see it was a serious incident, there were a lot of police officers and ambulance people around.

"They were a very friendly family. The kids always had a lot of friends which is a good sign. The mother was always friendly saying hello."

The grieving family was not at home yesterday as floral tributes built up on the pavement outside.

One attached card read: "Thanks for sharing my joy in the most memorable years of our lives, you will forever remain my most genuine, caring friend."

The headteacher of the city's Westgate School, Peter Jenner, confirmed the boy was a pupil there.

He said: "He was a delightful lad and I am very shocked and upset."