A mother today told how a summer holiday in Spain ended in tragedy when her son plunged to his death from a sea wall.

Oliver Edward Batley, 20, was five days into a two-week camping holiday with friends in San Sebastian, near Bilbao in northern Spain, when the accident happened.

His mother Janine told today how she understood he had fallen from a sea wall on to rocks in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

"He had been walking on the sea wall and tripped and fallen off," said Mrs Batley. "I understand it was not very high, but obviously there was a long drop at the other side. We understand that the accident was witnessed and the emergency services called as quickly as possible, but they were unable to save his life," she said.

She said her son hoped to follow a career in geology after having recently completed his first year in the subject at Edinburgh University.

"Oliver was lovely," said Mrs Batley. "He had a lot of friends and was very well liked. He was very outgoing, friendly and loved the out-doors. He travelled a lot and this was just another holiday for him. We are devastated."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed Oliver had died in the early hours of last Sunday after "falling down a cliff." He said their officers were assisting the family.

The group of friends had set off on the holiday on Wednesday, August 14 and were due to return around August 28.

Inquiries into the accident are continuing in Spain and Oliver's body has yet to be flown back to the UK.

Oliver, of Sycamore Drive, Moorbottom in Cleckheaton, was educated at Heckmondwike Grammar School and later at Greenhead College in Huddersfield. He had worked at Beardsworth's Nurseries in Whitehall Road, Cleckheaton, during the holidays for the last seven years.

A former member of Gomersal Scout Group for many years, Mrs Batley said her son was a keen climber and photographer.

A memorial service will be held for Oliver tomorrow (Aug 25) at Waitaki Boys School in Omaru, New Zealand - where he had spent a gap year - and a tree will be planted in his memory.

An inquest into his death is due to be opened in Huddersfield, possibly on Wednesday (Aug 28), but a date for his funeral has not yet been set.

Oliver leaves parents Janine and Andrew and sister, Rachel. Any donations in his memory can be made to British Mountain Rescue, which his mother said was dear to his heart.