An inquest opened into the death of a 14-year-old schoolboy who was discovered dead in Hale.

Luke Howe, from Sale, disappeared from the area of Bankhall Lane at around 6pm on January 18.

The emergency services searched for the 14-year-old schoolboy, a student at Brentwood Special School, throughout the evening and into the following day when he was discovered dead in the River Bollin.

At Stockport Coroner's Court this week an inquest opened into the death before senior coroner Alison Mutch and in the presence of two of his relatives. Ms Mutch adjourned the proceedings until July 26.

She said: "It is about putting the pieces together to see how somebody lost somebody they loved so much.

"I am so sorry to meet in these circumstances and please pass on my condolences to the rest of the family."

In the days after the discovery a fundraiser for Brentwood Special School raised more than its target of £50,000, £52,000 at the time of writing, towards a soft play area at the special school on Cherry Lane.

One anonymous donor donated more than £1,000 to the page on JustGiving.

A post on the page on JustGiving said: "Brentwood is a school for SEND pupils with additional needs and we are hoping to fundraise for soft play for the school for anyone who would like to contribute as, in his sister's words, there was nothing he loved more."

Detective Inspector Rick Lees, of GMP Trafford, said: "Our condolences are with Luke's loved ones, his family and friends, in what is an awful time. This is a tragic case of a teenager who died in terrible circumstances and our thoughts remain with Luke's family."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.