THE mother of one of the two teenagers who were found dead at the foot of cliffs believes they died in a tragic accident.

Alex Yeoman and Harry Watson are believed to be “having a laugh together” when they accidentally fell down the cliffs at Saltburn on Friday evening.

Harry’s mother, Tanya Watson, told The Times the family is struggling to come to terms with their devastating loss.

She said: “It was an accident, a tragic, awful accident. They were happy young lads who had been friends for years. Harry was in a good frame of mind and I know Alex well and he was, too.

“They were two lads who liked to be outdoors and they would go walking on the cliffs, that’s what they loved to do. They grew up around here and they knew the area very well . . . it’s something they had always done for as long as they had known each other.

“They have been having a laugh together and taking some photographs as they liked to do when for some reason they slipped and fell.

“There is no suggestion of anything else. We’re just trying to come to terms with it, but it’s very, very hard.”

The pair, who are believed to have been from the Loftus area, attended Brotton’s Freebrough Academy, a specialist engineering college.

On Monday, the school paid tribute to the pair, Principal Rachel Prentice said: “We are a very close knit community so the devastating loss of these two lovely young men, who had so much to live for, will have a huge impact on both students and staff.”

Cleveland police said that they could not speculate on how the boys had fallen are not treating the deaths as suspicious. A spokeswoman said: “The matter is now in the hands of the coroner.”

Inquests into their deaths are due to be opened and adjourned at Teesside Coroner’s Court to allow for a full investigation to be carried.

A fundraising campaign has been launched to help the families cover funeral costs and donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/harry-watson

Writing on the fundraising site, Ms Watson said: “Can we as Harry’s family thank everybody for their such kind donations it is such an honour to hear all the amazing things you are all saying about our precious son he was my shining star so thank you again and thank you to Jackie Craddy for doing this we are going to give Harry the send off he deserves.”