The devestated family of a Barnsley teenager who was found hanged in his bedroom believe he could have been driven to suicide because he was being bullied.
Ashley Banks, 14, was found at his family home in Coronation Road, Hoyland on Saturday evening.
He had not left his room all day and his family just thought he was playing on his games console.
But when dad, Shane, went upstairs to tell him that his beloved Barnsley FC had beaten Blackpool, he was unconscious.
Ashley - a pupil at the Horizon Community College in Barnsley - had only started at the school in September after leaving Kirk Balk and transferring to Kingstone before its closure.
He had been diagnosed with the behavioural disorder ADHD and was undergoing treatment.
His family say he never told them he was the victim of any bullying but friends have come forward since his death to claim he was being singled out at Horizon.
Shane said there were no other obvious reasons why Ashley - a 'cheeky and cheerful lad' - would have wanted to harm himself.
"He was a lovely lad… You just don't dream of something like this happening to a young boy of 14 years of age when his family loved him and his friends loved him.
"We never thought he would have done something like this - it must have been on his mind to do something like he did. All I can put it down to is him being bullied and nothing has been done at school."
Shane said Ashley had moved from Kirk Balk to Kingstone School in July because of his bad behaviour.
He said he did not know his son was being bullied although Ashley tried to deal with problems himself and would not express his feelings.
The night before his death, the family had enjoyed a takeaway together and Ashley's mood seemed to change.
Shane added: "He was himself but then he just went quiet now and again. We didn't take much notice at the time then but you could tell the difference."
A meeting with staff at Horizon College is being arranged to investigate the bullying claims.
Paul Gallagher, co-principal at Horizon, said Ashley seemed very upbeat when he left the school on Friday and there was no evidence to suggest he was being bullied.
"The evidence from all the professionals who worked with him in and out of school suggested things were going well at school and there were signs of improvement.
"It's a sad day for the college and the community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."
Ashley lived with his parents Shane and Donna and his two sisters, Charmaine, 16, and Bethany, nine.
On Sunday at 1pm, dozens of Ashley's friends are expected to take part in a tribute walk and scooter ride from Kirk Balk School to raise money for the funeral which will be at St Peter's Church, Hoyland next Friday at 1pm.
