A school has paid tribute to a 10-year-old boy who died after collapsing while out playing in the snow.

Joshua Houlgate, who is understood to have suffered from epilepsy when he was younger, was taken ill outside a friend's house in Castleford, West Yorkshire, on Sunday.

Despite frantic attempts to save him, he was pronounced dead in hospital.

Julie Murray, headteacher at Smawthorne Henry Moore Primary School, Castleford, said: "We are very saddened by the tragic death of Joshua and send our sincere sympathies to his family and friends.

"Joshua held a very special place in our hearts. He was a much-loved pupil who was well liked by his friends and all the staff at school.

"We are a very close-knit school community and are supporting the children and staff to help them come to terms with what has happened.

"This morning we held a special assembly which gave us all the opportunity to come together to pray for Joshua and his family.

"We have also set up a memory board where the children can share memories of Joshua and remember the special times we had together in school."

Joshua's mother Sara Houlgate, 35, and others battled to save the youngster before paramedics took him to Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, where he was pronounced dead.

Mrs Houlgate told the Yorkshire Evening Post it appeared her son had a fit.

His grandmother Rose told the paper: "He went out to play as fit as a fiddle. It is just unbelievable."