A 12-year-old boy has died after being electrocuted on railway lines in Merseyside.

Flowers were left at railings at the side of the tracks near Bedford Road in Bootle on Tuesday after the boy died on Monday.

A British Transport Police spokeswoman said officers were called to the line in Bootle shortly after 7pm following reports of a casualty on the tracks and a 12-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

She said: “His injuries were consistent with electrocution and the incident is not being treated as suspicious.

“The boy’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.”

Neighbour Sonia Melton, 33, said her 11-year-old son was friends with the boy who died, who has been named locally as James.

She said: “We’re in bits, my heart goes out to his mum.

“Last night we saw all the police and fire engines but we didn’t find out the names until this morning.

“He was a lovely kid, they’re all lovely kids round here. My son used to play out with him.”

Ms Melton bought red roses and said she would take her son to leave them as a tribute once he was home from school.

A bunch of flowers had been tied to railings at the scene with the message: “Shine bright like a diamond. You was the happiest little boy. You will be missed by your girlfriend Ellie.”

A boy and his mother left a card with a poem inside which said: “A golden heart stopped beating.

“Two shining eyes closed tight.”

Another note in the card, in a child’s handwriting, said: “Going to miss you mate, why would you do such a thing.”

A family friend left an Everton teddy bear and a bunch of flowers at the scene.

He said: “It’s absolutely heartbreaking. He has so many friends who care so much about him.

“He was a very happy-go-lucky lad and he knew what was right and what was wrong.

“He always had a smile and put a smile on other people’s faces, that’s what made us love him.”

DCI Steve Lewis, of British Transport Police, said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident which I know will have shocked many in the local community.

“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the boy’s family and request that they are given the space and privacy they need to come to terms with this devastating loss.

“While we have no reason to believe there were any suspicious circumstances to this incident, we are still working to establish the full circumstances behind the boy’s death. I would like to appeal to anyone in the area who may have seen two young boys on the tracks around this time to get in touch with us.”

A spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service confirmed an ambulance, rapid response vehicle and members of the Hazardous Area Response Team had been sent to the scene.

A Merseyrail spokesman said: “A death on our rail network is always incredibly upsetting, but especially so when it happens to someone of such a young age.

“A railway network can be an extremely hazardous environment, especially when there is an electrified rail involved.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young boy who lost his life last night during this difficult time.

“We would remind all members of the public not to attempt to access the track or trackside areas in any circumstances.”

Anyone with information can contact police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 488 of 14/10/19.