THE grieving parents of a popular Christchurch teenager have paid tribute to their son at an inquest into his death.

Harry Stallworthy, 19, was found hanged at his home and Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne concluded he took his own life at an inquest held in Bournemouth.

Mum Hayley, who found her son's body at their home in Sarah Sands Close, said her son did well at school and was a good sportsman.

She spoke of her shock at finding him hanged and added: "He was doing really well and was enjoying working. He had a lot of friends and seemed happy."

And dad Matthew spoke of his son's cricket and football talent and added: "He was a very bright boy."

The inquest heard that Harry, a former pupil of The Grange School and Brockenhurst College, started at St Mary's University in Twickenham in September last year but left and returned home two months later.

He had been involved in a relationship with a girl there and was still in contact with her at the time of his death.

Matthew said: "I thought he would get over it. They were still texting each other. He must have really liked her" and Hayley added: "He had a relationship with someone and we didn't know it had gone as deep as it had."

The inquest was told Matthew, who worked at Stewarts Gardenlands in Christchurch, went to a friend's house on Saturday April 23 and returned home at 11pm. When his mum got up in the morning she found his body.

Recording a verdict that he took his own life, Mr Payne said: "This is a very sad case indeed. He had done very well at school and got a place at university.

"He was a straight-forward lad doing everything as normal. The only glimmer is that possibly this relationship is something he was paying more attention to and had high significance.

"This was not a cry for help. He knew that this was going to be fatal."