AN INVESTIGATION was under way last night after an apparently healthy 11-year-old boy died after collapsing during a maths exam at a North-East primary school.

Leslie Elkington was sitting a Standard Assessment Test (Sat) at Shield Row Primary School, in Stanley, County Durham, when he became ill.

Although emergency services were called, the boy was confirmed dead when he arrived at hospital.

The tragedy has shocked staff and fellow pupils at the school. And it comes as the Government's Sats have been criticised by parents and teachers for putting children under huge pressure.

Officials said it was too early to say if Leslie's death - which happened last Thursday but has only just been confirmed - was linked to the exam.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on Monday.

The youngster died following a morning of exams.

Eric Patterson, headteacher at Shield Row, said Leslie had been a well-liked boy who was always fit and healthy.

He said: "The school has been absolutely devastated by his sudden and unexpected death and our thoughts are now with his family."

Mr Patterson said the school closed at noon last Friday, the day after Leslie's death, as a token of respect to him and his family, after pupils attended a special assembly in his memory.

Leslie lived with his mother, Amanda, younger brother, Jack, and younger sister, Perri, at the family's end-of-terrace home in Stanley.

Amanda, who moved to the town a year ago, was not at home yesterday. But she left a notice in the window of her living room, thanking neighbours for their kindness and the bunches of flowers.

She wrote: "I would like to thank everyone for their beautiful flowers and cards, for their kind, thoughtful and heartfelt words of sympathy for me and my family at this sad time.

"Lez was an extremely popular lad who always had a ready smile. He will be sadly missed by all of us. Your words of affection show me this."