THE pupil who lost his life in a road accident in Witney has been praised as a gentle boy who had a sense of humour and fun.

The headteacher of Henry Box School paid tribute to teenager Andrew Edwards and said it was a "difficult time" for the school reeling from two deaths in a matter of days.

Andrew, 13, died after he was hit by a car in Ducklington Lane, Witney, on Friday night.

On Thursday afternoon, the school's former head of technology Christine Diacon, died after being hit by a car on the A40 slip road near High Cogges.

Headteacher Nicky Edmondson said: "Andrew was a gentle student who was well-liked within a circle of friends for his unique sense of humour and fun."

Miss Annalies McIver, Head of Year 9, said: "Andrew will be sorely missed by the staff and students at The Henry Box School.

"Andrew was a gentle student, with a lovely sense of humour, which kept his classmates' spirits up.

"Andrew appreciated the hard work that many of his teachers and teaching assistants put in to help him achieve in their subjects and he worked really hard at school to respond to that help.

"He really liked practical lessons where he could work with his hands. He was a keen member of the school allotment project and enjoyed working on the school allotment.

"He valued his group of friends very much and enjoyed spending his free time with them. With his friends, he could always be himself - they valued and cherished him for the person he was.

"As his form tutor, Mrs Beharrell, said during our assembly yesterday: 'We can honour his memory by remembering that we need to love and value each other for who we are, and to enjoy the excitement of life as a young teenager just like Andy did.'

"We have very fond memories of Andrew and our thoughts are with his family at this tragic time."

Mrs Diacon, who had five children, was a teacher at the school for 17 years before retiring in 2000.

Ms Edmonson said: "Her death has affected many staff, ex-students and parents who remember her."