Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a teenager who has died suddenly in his sleep.

Classmates at Woodhouse Grove School at Apperley Bridge, where Simon Turner was in the sixth form, were told of his death at a special assembly.

He died of natural causes in his sleep at the home in Wyke, Bradford, he shared with parents Mike and Jeni and his 13-year-old sister Emma. There were no suspicious circumstances.

Today, Mr Turner said: "He was a fantastic son and we loved him tremendously.

"Simon had a very, very strong Christian faith - we all do - and we do believe some good will come of this.

"He wouldn't want us to be sad. We are grieving, but we know where he is - and at his funeral on Thursday we will celebrate 17 fantastic years."

Woodhouse Grove head teacher David Humphreys said: "Simon Turner was a young man of considerable academic calibre, high principles and standards and with a firm Christian faith.

"He was highly respected by his teachers and was a popular member of the lower sixth. As a school community, we grieve for his loss and are very conscious of his family and closest friends at this difficult time.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by his sudden death."

Simon was studying A-level maths, chemistry, biology and AS level politics. He also had responsibility as pupil manager of the IT rooms and was assistant editor of the school magazine, The Grovian.

Mr Turner said: "He believed very strongly in people's rights and cared about wrongs and injustices to people. Since the age of seven, he stood up for his principles. It didn't matter how high an authority someone was, if he had something to say, he would say it."

A keen walker and hiker, Simon was also a fan of Grand Prix racing and in particular Damon Hill. He was a member of Amnesty International and attended St Oswald's Church in Christopher Street, Bradford, where his funeral service will start at 10am on Thursday.

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