A TALENTED North-East schoolboy who became one of Britain's youngest ever pilots at 16, has been killed by a brain tumour.

Daniel Swaddle became obsessed with flying from the moment he first took to the air in 1998.

While too young to drive a car, he passed his pilot's exams and gained his full licence at 16.

But weeks later, as he made plans to become a professional flier, he was struck by the inoperable tumour.

Daniel passed his pilot's exams for his full licence by his 17th birthday on April 16, while a sixth-form student studying A-levels.

His mother, Judith, a shop supervisor, said: "On his birthday he had pins and needles in his right hand and was struggling to open his cards.

"Then he phoned my dad to say he had looked in the mirror and thought the right hand side of his face had dropped.

"Doctors at Wansbeck General Hospital thought it might be a mini-stroke or Bell's palsy but he was admitted to the RVI in Newcastle in May and a brain tumour was diagnosed on May 20."

Four members of Newcastle Aero Club travelled to his home last month to be at his bedside to present him with his private pilot's licence.

Daniel, who had a brother Matthew, eight, started flying gliders at 11 and became one of the youngest people in the country to earn his wings.

His father, Paul, 40, a former policeman, said: "He was held in very high regard by the Newcastle Aero Club."