THE heartbroken parents of an eight-year-old boy who died after becoming tangled up in a rope swing last night paid tribute to their "kind" and "brilliant" son.

Jerome Frewen - who was known to friends and family as Romey - was playing in his tree-house at his home in Healaugh, near Reeth, North Yorkshire.

The youngster's lifeless body was discovered caught up in the rope by distraught family members.

Paramedics were called but a local doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.

Last night, his parents, Robert and Rolline Frewen, said it was unclear just what had happened.

Mr Frewen said: "We do not know exactly what he was doing. He hooked a rope on to the tree.

"He tied the other end round himself and climbed out of the tree on to the branches.

"We will never know exactly what happened but he did not reach the ground so he was caught up in it and in the end it stopped him breathing."

Mr Frewen, who was speaking for the first time since the tragedy on Tuesday morning, said: "He was a real livewire and I think this has really affected the whole community because he was immensely well liked.

"He was immensely kind and he was brilliant with children younger than himself. He was fun and cheeky, but had so much charm that he got away with it."

Mr Frewen, a chartered surveyor, and Rolline, who runs a catering company, The Admirable Crichton, moved to the area 12 years ago. Romey and his ten-year-old sister Jennie were both born in the area.

The family has found some comfort from the tightly-knit Swaledale community which has rallied around them.

Mrs Frewen said: "It is devastating. We have good moments and bad moments but we have had so many wonderful letters."

Mr Frewen added: "We have had phone calls from all over the country and so many letters. We have lived here for 12 years so we are incomers, but Romey was born here and brought up here.

"He was a local. Both him and Jennie could have gone into a shop in Leyburn and they would have known everybody."

The youngster had been at Reeth Primary School for four years and had just started at Aysgarth Preparatory School.

George Lundberg's daughter Emma, from Low Row, also near Reeth, was nanny to Romey and Jennie for two years. He said: "Romey was a likeable, loving little boy. He was an adventurous little soul and was into pony riding and things like that.

"He used to come round to our house and run about and play with the chickens. It is such a tragic accident and everybody up here is devastated."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "The incident has been fully investigated by police and there are no suspicious circumstances. Jerome died as a consequence of a tragic accident."

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned yesterday.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said last night that other children had been killed while playing on swings at home.

A spokesman said: "This highlights the difficulties that can arise on simple play equipment. Parents have a difficult job."

Romey's funeral service is being held at Grinton Church on Wednesday, October 29, starting at 2.30pm.

Mr Frewen said everyone was welcome to pay their respects.