River Wear death: School tribute to Colin Dodds
Tributes have been paid to a teenager who died after getting into difficulties in a County Durham river.
Colin Dodd was swept away by the River Wear on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland on Saturday evening.
The body of the 16-year-old, from the Woodhouse Close estate in the town, was found in the early hours following a major search operation.
The head teacher of Bishop Barrington School said the whole school community was "shocked and saddened".
Jackie Gent said in a statement: "It is rare to find a young man who was genuinely loved by everyone around him.
"Colin Dodds was a lively boy who always had a smile on his face and a genuinely warm sense of humour. Our whole school community is shocked and saddened by his tragic death.
"It is a testament to Colin that already his friends from year 11 are leaving messages on their closed group on Facebook.
"Without exception these show how much he will be missed by us all."