FURTHER investigations are being carried out on the body of 11-year-old Kieran Horn, initially believed to have died in a quad bike accident last week, after no obvious cause of death was found.

Medical causes are also being investigated after the tragedy last Wednesday which has devastated the close-knit community of Lamerton.

A service of thanksgiving and celebration of Kieran's life will be held tomorrow (Friday) at the Church of St Peter in the village.

Tributes have been paid to popular schoolboy Kieran, who was well known for his cheerful, polite and hard-working nature. He died while doing what he loved most — helping out on the family farm.

Following a statement issued by Charles and Elaine Horn last week in which they said they were devastated by the death of their precious son who loved the outdoors, Kieran's grandfather Stephen Horn said he would miss the friendship of the little lad he called 'his mate', who was mature beyond his years.

Kieran was an accomplished horse-rider and took part in tetrathlon events but was never more happy than when out on New Venn Farm helping his family in everything from hedge building to feeding the animals and lambing ewes.

Stephen Horn said: 'His ultimate aim was to be a very real part of the family farming enterprise and he loved being helpful and learning new things. He lived life to the full and enjoyed the challenges that the farm presented.'

Mr Horn said his grandson had respect for other people and in turn earned their respect. He had an affinity with animals and loved his collie dog Bob and his ponies.

Mr Horn said on the day he died, Kieran arrived home from school after running club: 'I was lambing so Kieran said he would shift the beet fence. As ever, he wanted to be helpful and he asked both his dad and me if he could go on the quad bike. He would never just go off without asking.'

Mr Horn said he had taught Kieran to ride the quad bike to help around the farm and he had been out on his own on the farm numerous times.

'He treated the bike with respect and I had never had any cause to take him off it,' he said. 'He was very good on it and very steady. With Kieran it was never about the bike, he just wanted to be helpful on the farm.'

The headteacher of Lamerton Primary School Ann Mitchell said Kieran was a responsible and sensible boy who was polite and hard working. 

'Kieran tried his best with so many different activities and loved and lived life to the full,' she said.

'He was proud of all his achievements both at school and at home and we all enjoyed hearing about his triathlon and pony club exploits, his life on the farm and his bell ringing.

'His school peers will miss their friend, cross-country team runner, football goalie and PE store monitor — he was the best we ever had.  Kieran spent a lot of time organising and tidying all the equipment, insisted on carrying the heaviest bags up to the school field and never moaned when he was asked to do a job.' 

The head added that Kieran was a brilliant big brother to five-year-old Matthew and always looking out for him.  

'His teachers will miss his determination to succeed, his practical hard working attitude and his big smile. Kieran was a pleasure to teach and he will be sorely missed.'

Alida Pollard, of the Spooners and West Dartmoor Pony Club, said Kieran was such a live-wire, yet steady with it. In such a short life he had made an impact on so many people with his personality, manners and ability. In my mind he was always going to be one of the leading lights no matter what he did. Sadly that will not be now.'

There is a request from the family that no black ties should be worn at the service tomorrow. Kieran's favourite hymns will be sung, including one chosen by his brother Matthew.