Parents' tribute to drowned son

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The parents of a six-year-old boy who died after falling into a river while on a Beaver Scout trip have paid tribute to their "always smiling" son.

Alan Lock was pulled from the River Stour near Ballingdon Bridge, Sudbury, Suffolk, on Tuesday night.

He was taken to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds but later died.

In a statement, issued by the police, Alan's parents said their son "was a kind, honest and gentle well-liked boy, fun-loving and always smiling".

"We are shocked and devastated to have lost our son Alan, big brother to Adam," they said.

He touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with Alan Lock's parents

"He touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with, and he will always be missed by his family and friends."

A police spokeswoman said Alan's death was being treated as "unexplained".

She said: "Our sympathies are with the boy's family as police now investigate the exact circumstances of his death."

Alan, who was from the Sudbury area, was on a trip with the 1st Acton and Waldingfield Scout Group when the accident happened.

A friend of the family said the six-year-old was like a second son to her

The youngster was part of a group of Beavers, aged between six and eight, who were taking part in a supervised walk along the riverbank.

It is believed there were between 15 and 20 children and adults in the party.

Under normal Scouting rules there would be four or five adults accompanying a group of such a size.

The Scout Association spokesman earlier said: "They have done this walk a few times before along the side of the riverbank - it is something they do of a summer evening.

"Unfortunately the young person fell in and drowned.

"The question of how the young person ended up in the water is part of an investigation by the local authorities and by us."

The police spokeswoman said support was being offered to the boy's family.