Pupil was killed by cricket ball 'during brawl'

Reports that the death of a 16-year-old schoolboy happened after a playground "mass brawl" are being investigated by police.

Kyle Rees died after apparently being hit with a cricket ball at Portchester School, in Bournemouth, on Monday. A 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of manslaughter was released on bail.

A pupil from the school told a local radio station that the fight, involving "30 to 40 kids", broke out at around 2pm. The pupil said two groups threw footballs, tennis balls, cricket balls, shoes and chairs at each other.

The school said on its website that it could not give details in view of the police investigation. But it added: "We are horrified by the inaccurate reporting in the media concerning the circumstances surrounding Kyle's death. Some sections of media have been using unsubstantiated and incorrect information from social media, and quoting sources that weren't at the scene."

Dorset Police said the fight was "one line of inquiry", but stressed they had not yet received any other authoritative report.