SCHOOL friends were due to say prayers for youngster Shaun Smith and his family today after his body was discovered in a Blackburn canal.

The grim find was made by police divers four days after Shaun was reported missing by a friend.

His distraught parents Robert and Lynn are being comforted by relatives at their home in Gloucester Road, Whitebirk.

Lynn said: "The support we have received from everybody has been unbelievable.

"The divers deserve a medal. What they did was beyond the call of duty. Our family and friends have been brilliant and I want to thank them all."

The alarm was raised after Shaun, aged seven, was seen falling into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal by his four-year-old friend on Saturday.

The youngster, who was a pupil at Intack Primary School, was described as bright and popular boy by the headteacher of his school, Brian Peacock. He said: "I will be bringing the school together at some point. I will keep it very brief and simple just to share a few silent moments. It will be a time for reflection and we will say a prayer for Shaun's family."

"Those children who will find it difficult, will cope with it better in their own class environment. We want to avoid upsetting them any more than we have to."

"The feeling at school is one of great sadness and sympathy, as it is just a tragic waste.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Shaun's family, as nobody can imagine what they're going through."

The youngster fell into the canal close to the B & Q store in Whitebirk but his body was recovered some distance down the canal.

Police had considered draining the canal but decided to lower the water to assist divers. A diver combing the bottom of the canal found the body close to Harwood Road bridge yesterday lunchtime.

The area was immediately sealed off and police officers kept people away from the bridge. Scenes of crimes officers were also called out.

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out to establish the exact cause of death.

Blackburn coroner Andre Rebello has also been informed. A spokesman for Lancashire police said: "All the information we had pointed to one area and we always concentrated our efforts on the canal.

"This was a major police operation and it is sad that it had to end in this tragic way."

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