DEVASTATED pupils have paid emotional tributes to a teacher found dead while he was the subject of a police investigation.

The body of Michael Hall, 34, was found in the bathroom of his home, in Beatrice House, Royal Court, on the outskirts of Sunderland, on Tuesday.

The English teacher at High Tunstall College of Science, in Hartlepool, has been described by a student he taught as "gifted and inspirational".

Mr Hall was one of two teachers suspended from the school earlier this week when allegations of misuse of school computers came to light.

One pupil, who signed herself as Lois, wrote on The Northern Echo's website: "I'm so completely distraught that Mr Hall is gone.

"I know it has been said, but he really was an amazing, gifted person.

"Not many teachers at High Tunstall would sacrifice their own time and effort to help me (who he didn't even teach) get an A* in my prose.

"He was the greatest teacher I have ever come across and the grief in school has proven that.

"He had such wit and originality, which people really admired, and that is what will be missed the most."

Another pupil, Libby, wrote: "Hiya Sir. Today was quite hard.

"I didn't really believe it at first. But English was the hardest.

"Your handwriting was still on the board and your posters were still up.

"We put back up our poems posters as well.

"We're getting our reports off you next week - I hope you've been kind to us all."

Many of the students who left messages on the website were the teacher's former pupils at Sunderland's Southmoor Community School.

Mr Hall was pronounced dead on arrival at Sunderland Royal Hospital. A post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Students have also set up a commemorative page on www. gonetoosoon.co.uk, on which messages have been written by family and friends.

Mr Hall's love of Dr Who has been marked with the television show's theme tune on his webpage.

The second teacher at the 1,100 pupil school - an unnamed 28-year-old man - has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A police spokeswoman said it could take weeks for material on the computers to be analysed by specialist officers.