DRUGS including cannabis and Ecstasy were available at a party attended by a schoolboy who was later found dead in a nearby field.

Two teenagers, aged 14 and 19, and a 25-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of possession and supply of drugs as a result of investigations into the death of 15-year-old John Winter.

John's body was found near the hamlet of Kinninvie, in Teesdale, County Durham, on Saturday afternoon. He was wearing only a T-shirt, jeans and boots.

Police are not ruling out the possibility John died of hypothermia while trying to walk back to his house in Zetland Road, Barnard Castle, three miles from the party at Marwood Community Centre, on Friday night.

Police said it was too early to say whether or not John had been taking drugs.

A post-mortem examination has proved inconclusive and police are awaiting toxicology results, which are expected to take about a month.

Detective Inspector Paul Harker said police had established alcohol was freely available to the 100 partygoers, and many were drunk.

He said: "It has now emerged that cannabis and pills believed to be Ecstasy were also available.

"John was thought to have been drinking at the disco, and the laboratory tests will ultimately establish exactly what he had taken during the course of the night."

Floral tributes to John from grieving friends, many of whom used to hang about with him in the Scar Top area of Barnard Castle, were left in the car park at the community centre.

John's uncle, Robert Bousfield, found his body near a barn and said the family was struggling to come to terms with what had happened to the popular teenager.

He said: "Everybody's pulling together and trying to help everybody through it, but we'll just have to wait and see.

"I would think it's not going to go away for a very long time - 15 years old, it's just not on."

One close friend, who went to the party, said: "All of his friends here at Scar Top are really going to miss him. He was a really good lad.

"He was a class footballer and played as a striker for Barnard Castle.

"No one really knows what happened at the party.

"It was a good night and a really smart place. I just thought he'd gone home."

Another friend who was at the party said John was drunk and was taken outside for some fresh air, and was then helped back inside.

However, she later noticed he had gone.

She said: "There weren't any parents or anything there. There were a few 18-year-olds.

"The police came at around 11.30 and said that everyone had to go, but if we kept quiet we could stay for a while longer. Everyone was drinking and things."

Peter Stubbs, the chairman of the community centre, said: "I am really concerned about how young people get so much drink.

"They must be either getting it at off-licences or there must be other people out there going in and buying it for them.

"Somebody has got to speak out about this because of the drink they have had and the damage that's been caused."

The weekend's events have left staff and pupils at Teesdale Comprehensive School very subdued, said headteacher Paul Harrison.

He said: "Our priority has been to offer support to the friends of John and to help deal with the sense of shock and loss."

A book of condolence has been opened at the school.

The three people arrested are from the Barnard Castle area and were being held for questioning last night at Bishop Auckland police station.