A ten-year-old boy choked to death on a doner kebab despite frantic efforts to save him.

Christopher Curtis was eating his favourite takeaway at home with his mum Shelley when he started to choke.

Shelley and her partner John Belshaw fought to resuscitate him but his heart stopped and he was pronounced dead at hospital.

Devastated mum Shelly, 35, said: "I still can't believe it has happened and I'm coming to terms with it all."

The distraught mum has not been able to return to her Newcastle home since Christopher died there.

The family have received dozens of cards from friends and staff at school. Shelly said: "The support from people has been overwhelming and unbelievable.

"Christopher had a really strong bond with his family and his granddad Alistair was like a dad to him. They were devoted to each other and would build boats and bird tables up at his allotment."

Bright Christopher, who would have turned 11 on June 10, had impressed teachers at his school with his top grades in maths, physics and computers.

"He was very artistic and liked school a lot but he was always getting into mischief," said his proud mum.

"He had a very cheeky grin and was always messing about but the teachers still loved him."

His year six teacher and deputy head at his school, Karen Sample, said: "The kids are missing him a lot and they do seem quite subdued.

"We are trying to get on as normal but the children will start to talk about him and get sad, then there will be a few tears."

The coroner has opened and adjourned an inquest into Christopher's death.