Tributes have been paid to a popular 17-year-old boy who died after collapsing while playing football.

Tragic Ben Simmonds suffered a cardiac arrest at Sheppey Sports and Social Club in Halfway.

He had been enjoying a kickabout with his younger brothers Leo, 14, and 12-year-old Ross when he became unwell.

Despite desperate resuscitation attempts, Ben - who was born with a rare heart condition - was pronounced dead at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham.

His mother Becky Simmonds, of Queenborough Road, said: "Ben wasn't like your average 17-year-old. Ben was just Ben.

"He was always happy, mucking around and smiling. He loved being around people and being the centre of attention.

"He was just a proper, caring big brother and they all loved him. You would always see them together.

"He liked sporty cars and he would have loved to have sold Lamborghinis and Ferraris for a living."

She added: "I just hope he knows how popular he was."

Ben had been born with the rare Tetralogy of Fallot, which affected the flow of blood through his heart.

He had major heart surgery at four-and-a-half months and for the past three to four years had a leaky heart valve.

He was due to have another operation next month to fix the problem.

Mrs Simmonds, 53, added: "He went to hospital in March for pre-operation tests and they said there was no emergency.

"Ben said: 'I want to get this done'. So he booked himself in for the end of July saying then he could recover through the August and do his second year of carpentry in September.

"He has never had any symptoms. He was round Sheppey Sports and Social Club every night. He was always somewhere with a football."

One of seven, Ben's older half-brothers are Adam Simmons, 33, and Mark Simmons, 25.

He also leaves a 20-year-old brother Guy, younger siblings Leo, Ross, and sister Georgie, eight, plus two nieces and five nephews.

A bench has been put near the spot where the carpentry student collapsed. It has been named Ben's Bench and has been covered in flowers and messages.

About 40 friends and family gathered to release balloons and lanterns at Sheppey Sports and Social Club in Ben's favourite colours of pink, purple and blue.

A spokesman for Canterbury College Swale Campus, where Ben studied, said students and staff were deeply saddened, adding: "We have created a book of condolence which is available for his classmates and friends to leave their thoughts.

"We have also offered counselling sessions to students and staff."

Police, three ambulances and a Kent Air Ambulance vehicle were called to the Sheppey Sports and Social Club at about 8pm last Monday.

A coroner has recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.