TRIBUTES have been paid to a teenager who was killed on railway tracks last week.

Joseph Barber was hit by a train at around 12.55am last Tuesday near Hinton Admiral.

The 17-year-old had attended Ringwood School before beginning sixth form at Brockenhurst College.

Ringwood’s head teacher Christina Edwards said she was “desperately sad” to hear of Joseph’s death.

“He was a young man who had real character,” she said.

“He was creative and knew his own mind.”

She said Joseph had worked within a small group of boys to put forward a recommendation changing the design of the school’s ties.

“This was adopted, and every pupil in the school now wears that new design,” Ms Edwards said.

“He wanted to make a change, and he did. He will be greatly missed.”

A bridge over the railway line has been the focus for friends wishing to pay their respects.

Tens of bouquets have been laid at the bridge in Joseph’s memory, while the word ‘Joe’ has been scrawled on the brick wall.

One message, signed ‘Amy’, reads: “The amount of memories I have of you that just bring a smile to my face is phenomenal.”

Joseph’s friend Morgan Harris, 16, said: “Joe had been my friend since primary school where we would play games in the playground and have sleepovers.

“He stuck by me through thick and thin. I only wish I could have done more to help him.

“Joe was never judgemental – if you were kind to him, he was kind to you.”

Another of Joseph’s friends, 16-year-old James Taylor Holdaway, said: “One of his best qualities was his notorious smile, which was like a child’s smile on Christmas Day.”

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary and the British Transport Police were called to the track in the early hours of last Tuesday after a train driver reported a collision on the line.

Ambulance crews also attended, but Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest into the death will open this week.