Did missing Conley die after becoming trapped inside a pipe? Seven-year-old's devastated grandmother reveals youngster's tragic death after body is found on building site near his home

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The devastated grandmother of a missing schoolboy found dead on a building site has said the seven-year-old was trapped inside a pipe, and 'must have died trying to get out'.

Police discovered a child's body, believed to be that of Conley Thompson, on a construction site near his home in Barnsley this morning after the little boy had vanished after playing with friends in the town's Locke Park. 

Speaking at the site this afternoon, Conley's grandmother Deborah Fraser, described him as 'good as gold' and a 'little bundle of fun' as she revealed how his body was found this morning inside the pipe.

She also told how the youngster 'had been known' to go to the construction site but had been told by his 'devastated' mother to avoid the area.

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Police searching for missing seven-year-old Conley Thompson, (pictured left with his mother Paula), said today that they had found a body on a building site. His grandmother, Deborah Fraser (right), said this afternoon that the little boy became trapped in a pipe in the wet weather and 'must have died trying to get out'

She said: 'All I have heard at the moment is that he went down a pipe. He'd apparently gone in at the top and slipped down, and went into a vertical pipe. He must have died trying to get out.

'He's been known to go in there [the construction site] before and we've told him not to go in. It was raining and we just expected him to come home. His mother is devastated, we all are. We will all miss him, he was a lovely little lad.

'We all knew he had gone missing, but when you actually see it on the news and realise it's your grandson that's been found, you're shellshocked.

'He loved dinosaurs, he loved Ninja Turtles, he was just a typical lad. He like drawing and loved his PlayStation. He loved his life. He was a happy little chap.'

Paternal grandmother Ms Fraser, 53, said her grandson's father was 'not around', but said his mother, Paula Thompson, would be 'devastated' by Conley's death.

'You can't knock Paula as a mum,' she said. 'She's an absolutely ace mum. 

'She really tried her best with him, even though she had her tough days with him she was a brilliant mum and she's going to find it really, really hard without him.'

Paying tribute to the little boy, she said she was 'shell-shocked' by his death

She added: 'He was always in trouble, he was never out of it but when he came to my house to stay he was as good as gold, really good.

'I'm going to really miss him. It's really hard, I can't understand what's happened.

'As a person he was a lovely little lad, boisterous, got into anything and everything but his smile could light up a room.

'It's not even sunken in now that he's gone. I'm stood next to the place where he died and I'm thinking "what the hell were you doing Conley in a place like this?"

An aerial view of the building site in the Worsbrough area of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, where Conley's body was found this morning. A blue tent covers the vertical piping in which the seven-year-old's body was found

Conley's grandmother said the youngster had been known to play at the building site but warned to avoid it

Graphic shows the distance between Conley's home and the building site, where his body was found today

Conley disappeared after playing with friends at Locke Park and was expected to return home but was reported missing. A young boy's body, believed to be his, was found at a construction site earlier this morning

Speaking about how Conley might have got trapped in the pipe, she said: 'He slipped. You know it was raining, he slipped and went straight down. I hate to think what his little mind was going through.

'His brain must have been all over the place trying to get out.' 

Conley had vanished after playing with friends in Locke Park, Barnsley - two miles from his home.

He had gone to play at about 6pm on Sunday and was due to return home around two hours later, but never turned up. 

His disappearance prompted a huge police search, but this morning officers revealed that construction workers had discovered a child's body at the building site, just half a mile from Conley's home in the Worsbrough area of the town.

Builders discovered his body at 8.30am yesterday at the construction site, which has had no security guards for almost a fortnight and where panels have been removed from the perimeter fence.

Ms Fraser said Conley's mother, Paula Thompson, is an 'absolutely ace mum' who would be 'devastated' by Conley's death

Incredibly, despite 50 police officers looking for the boy overnight, a senior officer admitted they did not search the site after claiming it was ‘securely locked’.

Although formal identification is yet to take place, the body is believed to be that of Conley and it is understood police are treating the death as a 'tragic accident'. 

The boy's family, including Ms Thompson, have been informed and they are being supported by specialist officers. 

Dozens of people have today turned up at the scene to lay flowers and teddies in tribute to the youngster and a book of condolences is to be opened at the nearby St Thomas' Church in Worsbrough on Tuesday. 

Confirming the discovery of a body, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Stopford said: 'At 10.10pm on Sunday, 26 July, South Yorkshire Police were alerted to a report that a seven-year-old child, Conley Thompson, was missing, having last been seen leaving his home address by his mother at approximately 6pm.

'The investigation was declared as a critical incident and around 50 officers were drafted in to search for Conley. 

'Extensive, methodical and structured searches took place throughout the night involving specially trained search officers. 

'The construction site, where Conley was sadly discovered by construction workers this morning, was checked by officers during the hours of darkness and found to be securely locked with a large perimeter fence.

'The investigation continues into the cause of Conley's death and we are working with the Health and Safety Executive as part of that investigation.' 

A post mortem examination is expected to take place in the coming days. 

Detective Inspector Victoria Short, leading the investigation, said: 'We deployed our full resources with officers searching throughout the night to find Conley and we are deeply saddened by this tragic development.

'While it is early in the investigation, the death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem will take place in due course.

'Our thoughts remain with Conley's family and friends at this very difficult time.' 

Conley had gone to meet his friends in Locke Park in Barnsley yesterday evening, spending two hours with them before leaving to go home at around 8pm.

But the youngster failed to arrive back home, which is around two miles - a 40-minute walk - from the park, and was reported missing a short while later.  

Police launched a widespread search for Conley, who was wearing a blue checked shirt, red shoes and brown trousers when he disappeared. 

Ms Fraser and her daughter, Conley's aunt Rhiannon, arrive at the building site to leave flowers in tribute

Forensic officers search the spot where the body was discovered this morning. Police say they are treating the death as 'unexplained'

Police said they had found a body at a building site (pictured), around half a mile from Conley's home

Police announced this morning that they had found a body on a construction site in Bank End Road, which is around half a mile from Conley's home in Underwood Avenue, and a mile and a half from the park

Conley is believed to have met his friends in Lock Park, Barnsley (pictured) at around 6pm, and had set off for home at around 8pm

A police helicopter was also deployed as part of the search efforts, while this morning the search was concentrated at the building site, which is around half a mile from Conley's home and less than two miles from the park.

The construction site is believed to be for a new residential development of 16 homes. 

Although the site is surrounded by a six-foot high wooden fence, panels next to a footpath Conley is likely to have used to make his way home were missing and had been loosely covered by boards. 

The road around the building site at Bank End Road has now been sealed off by police, and forensic experts were seen working within the cordon while people started to bring floral tributes and soft toys to leave nearby today.

This police officer appeared to be overcome with emotion as she took flowers from members of the public to lay at the site where the body was found

A police car was also parked outside Conley's home this morning, and two officers flanked the door of the semi-detached house where only child Conley lived with Ms Thompson, who neighbours said was a full-time mother.

A friend of Ms Thompson said: 'I'm devastated. 

'I heard the news this morning. I just feel for Paula. She must be beside herself. 

'He was a little angel, bless him. He loved playing outdoors. 

'He was just like any other boy his age, doing all right at school. 

'He was really popular and had lots of friends of all ages. I have four kids and he used to play with them. 

'He was such a sweet kid.' 

John Wright, another neighbour, said that he had spoken to police looking for the seven-year-old last night, and told them to search the building site and the schoolboy had previously been warned about playing there.

'Police came round last night asking and my kids told them he might be playing at the construction site,' he said. 

'They said they'd looked but not found him. I'm telling you they should have found that bairn last night. 

'How can someone not be there then suddenly be there. It's a disgrace.' 

Mr Wright said Conley sometimes used to play on the construction site and had been warned not to in the past.   

George Hewitt, six, a friend of Conley, places a bouquet of flowers next to a wall alongside the building site

After news of the tragedy broke, people started to lay flowers and teddies next to the construction site where the youngster was found at about 8.30am 

Mr Wright added: 'He used to come and play round my house with my kids. He were [sic] a lovely lad just like any other his age. 

'He played with all the kids in the area. They had little scraps and fights and things just like kids do. 

'I know his mother and she must be devastated.' 

Another neighbour, who lives opposite Conley and his mother, also said local children had been playing at the building site.

'He's been playing in there for about two weeks now,' she said. 

'There used to be 24 hour security and gates there, but they've taken them down. 

'He's been going a few times with other boys - I've seen them playing on the diggers.' 

Alicia Dalton, who had visited the building site today to lay flowers, said: 'I heard he was playing on the site. Kids will go where they want to go. 

'They used to have two big gates up but I've not seen any in two weeks. Maybe it's because there's big machinery going in and out.'

This morning the search was concentrated at the building site, which is around half a mile from Conley's home and less than two miles from the park

South Yorkshire police had been searching throughout the night for Conley, drafting in extra officers to help look for him

Women bring bouquets of flowers to leave outside the building site in tribute to the youngster after police announced they had found a body

Writing on Twitter, a user called Brett said he used to live near the area and that children regularly play on the site where Conley was found.

He said he 'can't imagine what the family are going through', and added : 'I will say this about the spot where Conley Thompson was found, it is a dangerous place to play but kids do. I was knocked unconscious there.' 

A sign on the construction site's perimeter fence says the premises are protected by firm Security Guards UK using both manned security and CCTV, but a manager at the firm said the company left the site earlier this month. 

Peter Taylor, who said he was a manager at Security Guards UK, said the firm had reported that children were playing on the site.

'Basically we finished there on July 16, we leave warnings signs up as an extra visual deterrent,' he said.

'When we were there we had reported the perimeter was not secure, there were children trying to come on to the site and we were stopping them.

'We were pulled off immediately without any notice, we then reiterated the issues.'

He added: 'If a security guard was on site then he would have spotted it and would have prevented it from happening. We are very sorry for the family's loss.'

He described the site as 'high risk', with building materials and diggers inside.

A police officer takes floral tributes from members of the public to lay at the spot close to where a child's body was discovered this morning

People had also brought soft toys to leave at the scene (pictured). Neighbours described Conley as a 'sweet kid' who loved playing outdoors

Finlay Bolton, 4, and his father Wayne (left) prepare to leave flowers near to the construction site today

Little Finlay places his flowers with the growing pile of tributes. His father says the family had heard police helicopters searching for Conley last night

Mr Taylor said the security firm was employed by a company called Piletec. Managing director Mick Lopia confirmed Piletec had employed Security Guards UK to protect their equipment, and that the security firm would have finished working there around July 16.

Developers Howard Civil Engineering told ITV they were working with police  said they were working with police investigating the 'tragic incident', but were unable to comment further. 

Neighbours said Conley had previously been warned about playing on building sites

Conley's babysitter, Kim Burns described the schoolboy as a 'mint little lad'.

'We used to take him to the park, he was playing football all the time,' she told ITV News.

'He used to make up his own football teams.' 

Other neighbours have expressed their shock and grief at the news that a body had been found. 

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: 'I don't know the family but this is a close-knit area and word spreads like wildfire.

'I just can't believe it, it's so sad. I feel terrible for them.'

Another woman said: 'I can't imagine what the family must be going through. It's just unbelievable. 

'He was just a kid who liked playing out in the street.' 

One man, who also did not want to give a name, said: 'It's so sad. The whole community is in shock.' 

Cheryl Dunning, whose son Evan, seven, was friends with Conley and in the year above him at school described the discovery of the body as 'sad, very sad.'  

She added: 'It makes it worse because he's the same age (as her son) and everyone knew him.' 

Kelsey Heeley, 17, who lives near the construction site, said: 'I can't really put into words how people are feeling because you don't know.

'I heard that he went missing yesterday on Facebook and then on television this morning one of my family rung me and said: "Is there anything happening on your street?"

'It's heartbreaking, because he's a young boy. It would be heartbreaking if it were anybody but he had his life to come.' 

South Yorkshire police said a child's body was found at approximately 8.30am and although formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed to be Conley

Reverend Trevor Keightley, vicar at the nearby St Thomas' Church in Worsbrough, said: 'We are all shocked and all our hearts go out to the family and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.

'Everyone's feeling it at the moment and everyone is very upset about it all.

'There was lots of people on Facebook and others going out to look for him, so people were very concerned for him.'

The church will be open tomorrow and Wednesday as a book of condolences is opened for Conley's family.

Wayne Bolton was one of those who laid a bunch of flowers at the building site this morning, going  with his son, Finley, four, in order to pay his respects. 

He said the first he heard was the helicopter being used to search for the boy on Sunday night.

Mr Bolton said: 'We are not friends with the family, but it's tragic what's happened and it just makes you appreciate what you have.

'I can't begin to imagine what that family are going through.

'It was such a tragic accident, hopefully, and we just want to show support for the family and to be fair the whole community has turned up. It's shocked everyone and everyone is in bits and luckily, in an area like this, everyone comes together and we all help each other.'

Formal identification is yet to take place, however the body found is believed to be that of Conley

The road around the building site at Bank End Road had been sealed off by police, and forensic experts were seen within the cordon

Forensic experts comb the construction site looking for clues regarding Conley's disappearance

The building site was sealed off this morning, with workers having to down tools as police searched the site

James Attree and his partner Louise Hirst came with their daughters, who were school friends of Conley, to lay flowers at the scene.

Mr Attree said: 'I knew his mum and would always see them at the school gates. I know the family will be devastated. 

'I just remember him as a really happy lad. He loved playing outside and having fun with his friends. He was a typical young boy running about and having water fights. 

'His life was only just starting.'

One local mother, who did not want to be named, said: 'It makes me really paranoid and nervous for my kids to play out. Anything could happen.'

This morning, prior to the discovery of the body, the headteacher of Worsbrough Bank End Primary School - which is not far from Conley's home - urged parents to help raise awareness about his disappearance. 

Nichola Thorpe wrote on the school's Facebook page: 'Dear families, can you help? Conley is missing since last night (Sunday) and the police are looking for him.

'We pray that he is safe and has stayed with friends. Please share and spread the word to get him home safe and well.'

The post was later removed from the school's Facebook page. 

Conley had gone to meet his pals in Locke Park (pictured) yesterday evening, spending two hours with them

The large park where Conley vanished from is around a 40-minute walk from his home

This morning, Nichola Thorpe, the headteacher of Worsbrough Bank End Primary School - which is not far from Conley's home - urged parents to help raise awareness about his disappearance