A man is on police bail after his arrest in connection with the suspected drugs death of a schoolboy, it has emerged.

The 18-year-old from Whitstable was questioned by officers in relation to the supply of an illegal drug after Josh Oliver, 15, died shortly after Christmas.

He was bailed until May 7.

Josh, who lived in Dargate and used to attend the Canterbury Academy, was taken ill at a house in Saddleton Road, Whitstable, on the evening of December 29, and died later that night.

But his father Paul Oliver, 43, has been told to expect an agonising wait for information.

“He had a fantastic Christmas – he told us this was the best Christmas he had ever had" - Paul Oliver

It is thought Josh may have ingested a contaminated recreational drug, but Mr Oliver has not yet received any toxicology information

He said: “They have told me it’s going to be months before it emerges and it could be well after the summer until they hold the inquest.

“I don’t understand why we have to wait that long and it is annoying.”

Mr Oliver is in the process of building a memorial for Josh at the home in Dargate Road he shares with his wife Sarah and their twins Maddie and Will, who are seven.

He says he is also going to launch a fundraising effort in Josh’s memory to repay organisations who have helped his family through their ordeal.

Josh, a pupil at the Community College Whitstable, had dreams of forging a career in television or media.

Paul says his son had just gone through an experimental stage and had turned a corner, becoming more serious about his life goals.

He said: “He had a fantastic Christmas – he told us this was the best Christmas he had ever had.

“It wasn’t the gifts. It was the family occasions we had.

“Josh had been an absolute joy to live with, he was just so helpful and had just had such a good year.

“He was doing chores around the house and had had some brilliant school reports and had a positive outlook on his life.”

Shortly after he died, Will and Maddie sent handwritten letters attached to balloons into the sky on Josh’s 16th birthday in February to tell him how much they loved him.

Josh’s funeral took place at St Michael’s Church in Hernhill on January 30.