SKIES above Wroughton lit up on Friday night after more than a hundred sky lanterns were released in memory of Tyanni Tendayi.

The 14-year-old died at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children last month after suddenly suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Eager to pay tribute to the popular Ridgeway School pupil, his friends organised the event at Maunsell Way playing fields just after sunset.

Also in attendance were teammates from Broad Town Colts, for whom the keen Arsenal fan was a player.

Around 150 biodegradable lanterns were released as the village came together to pay their respects and support Tyanni’s grieving family.

Afterwards, Tyanni’s grandfather Alan Goward said: “The people of Wroughton have been fantastic and have offered us so much support.

“It’s hard to say exactly how many people were there on Friday but we were so touched to see everyone come out and pay their respects to Tyanni. It shows just how popular he was with everyone.

“His friends were there but so were their parents – not just because they had to be but because they too wanted to remember Tyanni.

“The occasion was obviously very emotional for everyone and the whole family is very grateful to his friends for organising it.

“But they are the positives of the event. The reality is we should not have had to be doing it at all.”

Tyanni was staying at his grandparents’ in August when a minor headache rapidly deteriorated and an ambulance was called.

A scan at Great Western Hospital showed a bleed on the brain which needed immediate surgery.

He was rushed to Bristol and placed into an induced coma but after several days his condition did not improve and his parents took the heart-wrenching decision to turn off the life support machine.

However, seven lives have been saved as a result after the tragedy after the youngster’s organs were donated.

Alan said Tyanni’s death remains raw for the whole family but the time has come for everyone to move forward for his brothers.

“Of course we will never forget Tyanni and these catastrophic few months,” he said.

“But we now have to get on with the next stage of our lives.

“Tyanni has three brothers and so we have to be there for them.

“We can’t stay in this place forever.”

A huge amount of money was raised by locals in the days after Tyanni’s death for charity.

Any profit made from the sale of the lanterns used in Friday’s tribute will be added to the fund.