The mother of a 12-year-old boy who was found hanging has paid tribute to her "happy, caring and truly special" son.

Nicola Fleming's son, George, was found in his bedroom at home in Station Road, Kirby Muxloe.

At an inquest into George's death, held at Leicester Town Hall yesterday, coroner Catherine Mason recorded an open verdict after saying there was no evidence the youngster had intended to take his own life.

In a statement after the inquest, Mrs Fleming said: "Words cannot describe the terrible devastation that we feel at the tragic loss of George, who was the happy, caring and beloved boy who put smiles on our faces every day.

"He had a real zest for life and the promise of so much to come in the future.

"We would like to thank everyone for the many wonderful tributes to George we have received.

"They reflect what we as his proud family always felt, that George was indeed a truly special and much-loved person who was as gorgeous inside as he was beautiful out."

The head teacher of Brookvale High School, in Groby, where George was a pupil, also paid tribute to him, saying he was a "wonderfully positive, friendly, caring student".

The inquest heard that George was found by his step-mother, Alison Fleming, on January 24.

She had called him down for dinner at about 6pm and when there was no reply went upstairs to see what he was doing.

She found George's bedroom door open and then saw him hanging next to his bed.

Mrs Fleming took him down, laid him on the floor and tried to resuscitate him.

George died in Leicester Royal Infirmary the next day.

The cause of death was given as asphyxiation due to strangulation.

The inquest was told George had been talking to someone on his mobile phone before he was found.

No information about the person on the phone was given at the inquest, but they were described as a "significant witness".

Detective Constable Dan Cumpsty told the hearing: "Based on the evidence that the witness gave us, that person did not fully understand the consequences of what George was actually doing."

The inquest heard that George had known people who were interested in self-harming, but that there was no evidence that he was involved in such activity.

The inquest also heard there had been an incident of bullying at Brookvale, but police had ruled out any link between that and his death.

Det Con Cumpsty said: "There is no evidence that the bullying was an on-going issue.

"It was a one-off incident that was dealt with by the school."

The officer said that George's computer and mobile phone had been checked, along with "everyone's accounts", and there was no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in his death.

Coroner Mrs Mason said the reasons behind George's death would remain a mystery.

"The one question that I can never answer is why George did this," she said.

"I have no evidence to support a verdict of suicide. To do that I have to be 99.9 per cent certain."

After the inquest, Brookvale head teacher Katie Rush said: "The death is a tragic loss to all at the school and our thoughts are with George's family.

"Brookvale students and staff have created a book of memories about George and this has been presented to his family.

"George's year group and tutor group carried out a balloon release for George, led by our vicar and attended by his family and teachers from both Brookvale High School and Kirby Muxloe Primary School.

"We will continue to remember George as a wonderfully positive, friendly, caring student who got involved in all aspects of school life."