HUNDREDS of mourners have attended a memorial service for a 14-year-old schoolboy who died in a gorge-jumping accident in northern Italy.

Explorer Scout Elliot Peacock, who attended Eastwood High School in East Renfrewshire, was described yesterday as an example to all and loved by everyone who met him.

He died last month after jumping into water in a supervised activity at the Gran Paradiso National Park north of Turin. He was with the Pegagus Explorer Scout Group, linked to the 35th Crookfur Scout Group.

Reverend Brian More, school chaplain and minister of Newton Mearns Baptist Church, led the tributes in front of 400 of Elliot's family, friends and classmates.

He praised Elliot's "vibrancy and quirkiness" and said he was deeply loved by his family and friends.

The boy's headteacher Stuart Maxwell said he had nothing but positive memories of Elliot. He said he should inspire everyone to be "a little like [him]".

He added: "The one over-riding thought emanating from my memories is that Elliot will live on in our hearts and in our cherished memories.

"He had a positive impact on all our lives. He enriched the lives of everyone who knew him and he made our school a bit better."