Pupil falls through Clayton Hall school roof

A 16-year-old boy is in a critical condition after falling through the roof of a school in Staffordshire.

Thomas Buckett was discovered in the grounds of Clayton Hall Business and Language College, Newcastle-under-Lyme, at 1920 BST on Sunday, police said.

Ambulance staff said Thomas fell 15ft (4.5m) through a skylight. Fire crews had to open school gates and force their way into the building.

The pupil, who is sitting his GCSEs, suffered serious head injuries.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Emergency calls were received to reports of a boy that had fallen through a skylight at a college and was seriously injured.

"Ambulance crews arrived and found the gates to the college locked. They were opened by the fire service and crews also had to force entry to the college to gain access to the patient."

Thomas was found on a small staircase in a corridor.

His parents said he is a big Stoke City fan and "fun loving and adventurous".

They have been with him at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Ch Insp Steve Maskrey, from Staffordshire Police, said: "They are at the bedside clearly very upset and our thoughts and minds are with them at the moment."

Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crimestoppers.