A teacher described as 'one of the best' by pupils has died suddenly at the age of 41.

Tributes have poured in for popular Mike Fawcett, an English teacher at Blatchington Mill, whose body was found this morning.

The shocking news was announced to pupils who were sent home from the Hove school at lunchtime.

The keen squash player had been at the school in as normal on Tuesday and showed no signs of ill health.

Mr Fawcett, who was a keen squash player and runner and was training to do the Brighton Marathon, had attended his classes as normal on Tuesday and showed no signs of ill health.

But when he failed to arrive at school yesterday morning his sister Jacqui, who is head of music at Blatchington Mill, went with a colleague to his flat in Livingstone Road, Hove.

When Mr Fawcett did not answer the door, she called 999.

Firefighters found his body when they entered the flat.

Two months ago he was rated on a website called ratemyteacher.com as 'one of the best' and someone 'who helped everyone'.

Yesterday, pupils broke down in tears and groups of Mr Fawcett’s former pupils arranged to travel back from university to pay their respects to him.

Headteacher Janet Felkin said: “He was just a wonderful man. He was such an admired and loved member of staff.

“I never knew a child to get upset with him. He was a role model for the students. It has rocked staff, pupils and the whole school community.

“Those in his tutor group, who had been with him for four years, were distraught. He will be greatly mourned and missed.”

Fellow English teacher Naomi Pitkeathly said: “He was such a big personality with so much energy.It is very difficult to believe he is not there any more.

“A few days ago he was telling me how he had jogged along the seafront during the weekend storms.

“He was very active in the drama and music departments and very important to the students. Staff were stricken when they heard it was him.”

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