TRIBUTES have been paid to a Blackburn secondary school pupil who has died suddenly.

Blackburn Central High School (BCHS) said the Year 11 pupil died in the evening of Wednesday, June 8.

No further details on the death were released at this time and the school said fellow students and staff were being supported by counsellors and professionals following the tragic news.

Year 11 students across East Lancashire and the rest of the country are currently in the midst of their GCSE exams.

Headteacher, Mrs Shanaz Hussain, said the whole school was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one their "family" and asked for privacy at this time.

“We have tragically lost a much-loved member of our Blackburn Central High School family," she said.

"Our heartfelt prayers, sympathies and thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the pupil and we will be supporting them in any way we can.

“We are a close-knit school and this is also extremely upsetting for our whole school community. We will do all that we can to help and support young people and staff who will obviously be deeply affected by this saddest of news today and during the difficult days ahead.

“I want all students and staff to know that extensive support will be available from our own counsellors, and support is also being made available from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and IMO Charity.

“We will be planning a memorial in due course, and we ask that the privacy of all our students and staff is respected during this difficult time.”