A SHOCKED community has paid tribute to a ‘beloved’ 11-year-old boy who died suddenly over the weekend. 

Police have confirmed that the boy died in the Royal Blackburn Hospital after he was taken ill at his home on Marsden Road in Burnley on Saturday. 

Hundreds of tributes have flooded in for the schoolboy, who has been named locally and on social media as Raffi Ahmed Pownall. 

Councillor Shbana Khan, who went to school with Raffi’s mother, said the whole community was in shock at the news. 

She said: “I have been to pay my respects to the family this afternoon (Sunday) and my thoughts remain with them at this hard time.

“This is a tragic situation for the family.

“He had his whole life ahead of him and that has now been cut short due to this heart-breaking event.

“As a mother of three children I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through.

“My thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved him and I would like it to be known that we are here to support them if they need it.”

While a cause of death has not been announced, police officers have said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

READ > Funeral takes place after tragic death of schoolboy Raffi Ahmed Pownall

A family friend wrote on Facebook: “He was a beautiful child, full of life, intelligent and superseding his age.

“He would often attend programmes and retreats with his mother and he was an absolute joy to be around and this is a great loss for us.

“Can I kindly ask you all to please pray for the family during this testing time and remember them in your moments of reflection.”

Another wrote: “He was a lovely boy and will be dearly missed. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

A file has been passed to the coroner. 

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 4.28pm on Saturday to reports a child had been taken ill at an address on Marsden Road, Burnley.

“Emergency services attended and the 11-year-old boy was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

“He was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.”

Family and friends are asked to keep Raffi in their thoughts and prayers.