Linconshire police have confirmed that a 14-year-old schoolboy has died following a fight at The Birkbeck School in North Somercotes.

The incident occurred at around 10am today. The victim was immediately rushed to Grimsby Hospital where he has since been pronounced dead.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and taken to Skegness Police Station for questioning.

Police intend to question students who may have witnessed the incident and will do so under the vulnerable witness scheme, meaning they will be interviewed by specially trained officers in the presence of their parents.

The area in the school where the incident took place has been preserved for forensic examination and the school will probably remain closed tomorrow.

A Home Office post mortem is to be carried out this evening at Grimsby Hospital, and, until the result of that post mortem is available, the police will not comment on the cause of death. In the interim the death is being treated as suspicious.

Chief Constable Tony Lake, who was making a routine visit to East Division today, has visited the school and spoken to the headmaster Gary Loveridge. Mr Lake expressed his deepest sympathy on behalf of the force for the death of the pupil and asked for his sympathy to passed on to the boy's family.

The Chief Constable has also pledged the full support of the force for the school, and police experts in dealing with critical incidents will liaise with staff from the education authority to ensure staff and students are provided the appropriate support.

The Birkbeck School, a designated Art College, admits 11-16 year olds and has been widely praised recently for high standards and pastoral care.

(GB)