Children at Gad's Hill let off balloons to remember fellow pupil Charlie Booth

Hundreds of emotional pupils gathered in mournful silence before releasing balloons to remember schoolboy Charlie Booth.

The 16-year-old died after apparently shooting himself with his father's gun at the family home in Cobham.

Fellow pupils, family members and friends attended a celebration of his life at Gad's Hill School in Higham on Friday.

At the end of the service, 61 white balloons - each with personal messages from every member of his year group - were released in his memory.

Floral tributes to the popular teenager (pictured right) were left at the spot where he would have left his bag during the school day.

One message attached to flowers from his best friend Zak Warwood read: "Charleston, I love you man, keep smiling up there."

All senior school pupils attended a memorial service to remember Charlie's life on Friday.

It began with a Drumhead service - conducted in the military field during armed conflict - where five of Charlie's fellow cadets carried drums onto the school's stage, piling them neatly and draping them with the school's flag to create an "altar".

His closest friends then joined headmaster David Craggs and Fr James Southward, from Higham's St John Evangelist Church to remember Charlie through poetry, music and photography.

Earlier, it emerged police had visited Charlie's home to talk about an "incident" just hours before he was found dead on Friday, March 8.

Kent Police confirmed the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which was looking into the handling of the case, has passed the investigation back to the force.

A spokesman refused to explain why officers had been involved, but said there was "no ongoing criminal or pending investigation and the matter was resolved at the meeting".

Floral tributes to Charlie Booth at Gad's Hill School in Higham

In the days before his death, Charlie tweeted about his volatile moods and said he got caught up in arguments.

One message at 6.49pm on March 7, the day before he died, said: "Swear I get in s*** moods for no reason at the moment! Need to sort myself out."

Charlie lived with his father Nicholas, 52, marketing assistant mother Julia, 48, and 12-year-old sister Harriet in a large country home.

In a tribute, his family described him as a "one-in-a-million son".

They said: "As a son he was a very loving boy that had a very supportive family, not just his parents, but his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. He thought the world of them and we all thought the world of him.

"He was just a typical country boy that enjoyed school life, loved outdoor pursuits and he fully embraced the country lifestyle.

"Charlie was one in a million, very popular and well-liked, and was quite simply our beautiful boy."

Charlie was a keen member of the Gad's Hill Combined Cadet Force, which trains pupils in a range of military activities including shooting, survival training, rock climbing and taking part in assault courses.

He also represented the school at cross-country, rugby and hockey and previously played for Gravesend Rugby Football Club and had a keen interest in cricket.

Charlie helped raise several thousand pounds through a number of events with family and friends to help fund a school trip to Alaska in July.