Tributes were paid to teenager Shaun Dykes who fell to his death from a city shopping centre car park on 28 September, 2008.

Friends of the 17-year-old were offered counselling and an assembly in his memory was held at Heanor Gate Science College, Derbyshire, where he was a sixth former.

Shaun, of Kilburn, had climbed on to a railing on the edge of the top level of the car park at the Westfield Centre in Derby and a police officer began talking to him. But he fell on to London Road three hours later.

Flowers and notes have been placed at the scene by friends of the former John Flamsteed School pupil.

Lindsey Reid, Shaun's best friend since the age of four, said: "He was the joker and smiled all the time. He was so funny and everyone knew him because he was so popular. Everyone's got memories of him and they're happy ones. He's not the sort of person you'd expect to do this.

"Whenever I was upset he was always there to talk to and he'd make you happy if you were down."

Fellow Heanor Gate student Josh Barlow said: "He was the lad that always had a smile on his face and was such fun to be with. It is a tragic loss."

Rebekah Minkley, 16, another friend and fellow pupil at Heanor Gate, said: "Shaun did not realise how many people loved him and are going to miss him."

Another friend, who had known Shaun since childhood but did not wish to be named, said that she placed flowers at the scene.

She said: "When we came down here reading the tributes. One read 'Shaun, you were always a star and now you are an angel' and that sums him up."

Rob Howard, Heanor Gate head teacher, confirmed that a special assembly was held for sixth-form students.

"He was a nice lad who clearly had personal issues outside school.

"Some of our students sadly witnessed the event and are also being offered counselling. It is a sad time."