EMOTIONAL tributes have poured in for a schoolboy who died when a goalpost fell on him in a freak accident during a kickabout with pals.

Football-mad Casey Breese, 12, was knocked unconscious by the heavy metal pole and later declared dead in hospital.

The area has been sealed off and the goalposts taken away for examination after police and the Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation.

Floral tributes and a red soccer shirt, marked Casey 1, were laid at the pitch in the village of Caersws, near Newtown, Powys, yesterday as family and friends struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.

And two internet sites set up in his memory were inundated with tributes to the "always smiling" youngster.

Jodie, 23, said: "Sadly my little cousin has been taken away from us today, much loved by everyone in the village, always willing to help and had a lovely smile all the time.

"Casey my love, you will never be forgotten and will be hugely missed by us all."

Casey and his friends were playing on a junior pitch at the village recreation ground which is owned and managed by the Caersws Recreation Association when the accident happened.

Casey, a star of the village under-12 team, was standing next to the posts on Friday when they suddenly collapsed.

Specially-trained police are preparing to interview Casey's traumatised friends who witnessed the tragedy.

One woman in the village said: "My little boy is devastated, he and Casey were such good friends.

"Casey was a smashing boy, always smiling and known by everyone in the village. No one can believe what's happened."

As Casey's devastated parents Nick and Shan were being comforted by relations yesterday, Peter Harding, chairman of the village soccer club, said: "It is a dreadful thing – the whole village is in shock. We are helping the police with their inquiries and the goalposts have been taken away as part of the investigation."

Village community councillor Rachel Davies said: "I know them well and they are reeling from the shock. They are a family who are among the grassroots of the community and he was a very popular boy."

Casey was due to start his second year at Newtown High School in September and hoped to own a motocross motorbike when he was older.

A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said: "We are aware of this incident and are following up with police and officials."