A TEENAGER who died in a crash in West Oxfordshire has been described as a 'charismatic' student and keen sportsman.

Thomas Early, 16, was killed in a car crash on November 20 while cycling on the B4449 (Stanton Harcourt Road) near Eynsham.

The student, who lived in Eynsham, had recently joined The Henry Box School's sixth form in Witney and also studied at Abingdon & Witney College.

A tribute was released this morning by the school's headteacher Wendy Hemmingsley and college principal Di Batchelor, jointly with headteacher Craig Thomas of Bartholomew School in Eynsham, where Thomas was formerly a pupil.

Their statement said: "Thomas Early studied at three centres in West Oxfordshire and was very well-liked by everyone who came into contact with him.

"He was kind, caring, polite and charismatic.

"Everyone at Bartholomew School, The Henry Box School, and Abingdon & Witney College is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of Thomas, and our thoughts are with Thomas’s family and friends.

"Thomas will be sadly missed by all who knew him."

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Thomas joined Bartholomew School in 2013, and the tribute said he played an 'active part in school life', adding: "He was a keen sportsman with a particular passion for rugby."

In September Thomas joined Year 12 at Henry Box and was said to have quickly settled into the sixth form community.

Part of St Mary’s Church in Witney, close to the school, had set up an area for students to light candles and lay tributes.

Read again: Community in shock after death of sixth form pupil 

Last week Oxford Coroner's Court held the opening of the youngster's inquest, where the cause of death was recorded as 'traumatic brain injury'.

Thomas had been cycling between his home village and Witney, when he was struck by a blue Hyundai Kona at about 9.35pm. 

The car driver stopped at the scene and police shut part of the road.  

Thomas was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and pronounced dead at 8.38am on November 21.

A full inquest has been scheduled for May 14. 

Anyone with any information about the collision can contact police on 101, quoting the reference 1378 20/11.