TRIBUTES have been paid to a "witty" and "kind" 17-year-old boy who died after falling from the cliffs on Llandudno’s Great Orme.

Ben Leonard was from the Stockport area. The boy plunged from the cliffs on Sunday; emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 2pm but they were unable to resuscitate the boy.

North Wales Police are working with the coroner to establish the circumstances surrounding the “tragic death.”

Ben's parents Jackie and Dave said that their whole family had been left "totally devastated" by the loss of Ben.

They added: "He was kind, caring, witty and a wonderful lad and we will miss him terribly. We ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”

Coastguards were paged at 1.48pm on Sunday after a call from the ambulance service to reports that a male had fallen from cliffs on the Great Orme.

A spokesperson for the coastguard said: “Arriving on scene it was clear our rope rescue skills would not be required, however, we needed to assist with casualty care.

“The team assisted the ambulance paramedic and ambulance crews with casualty care but despite our best efforts we were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Llandudno Coastguard posted on Facebook: “The team wish to extend their heartfelt condolences to the boy’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

“We would also like to thank those who have contacted us with messages of support. This means a lot to the team as we have all been affected by this tragic incident.”

In May, father and angler Lukasz Lesniacki died after falling off the Great Orme into the sea. Mr Lesniacki, who was Polish, lived in Birmingham and worked for fishing tackle suppliers UK-Lures Ltd.

He was visiting the town with a friend and was on a fishing trip, just off Pigeon’s Cove on the Great Orme, when he fell.