THE family of a Chorley teenager who drowned in a reservoir this week have praised all those who tried to save him.

Nicholas Wetton, 17, died at the notorious Blue Lagoon, Belmont, where he was swimming with friends on Sunday afternoon (August 1).

His family, of Mavis Drive, Coppull, looked on as his body was retrieved from the water an hour after he was last seen alive.

Friends desperately searched for Nicholas, known to his friends as Nicky, an ex-Holy Cross RC High pupil, before calling for help at around 4pm.

An air ambulance attended the scene along with divers from Bolton Mountain Rescue, who eventually discovered his body in the water.

His parents Carol and Darren Wetton were phoned by concerned friends and rushed to the scene.

They said: "Nicky was a loving, caring and very precious son to us. He was loved by all who knew him. We have lost our son in a tragic accident and would not like any other parents to suffer the pain we are now suffering.

"Nicky's friends tried in vain to help him. He will be missed by all of us. His parents, his sister Kirstie, his grandparents, family and all his friends.

"We would like to sincerely thank all the rescue services involved, the police and staff at the Royal Preston Hospital."

Around 50 onlookers witnessed the frantic search, and many have since returned to the scene to pay their respects. Among them was Janet Newcombe from Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, who left a card for Nicholas's family which read: "I don't know you but I do know that on Sunday I saw a terrible tragedy take place.

"No possible words can describe how you all must be feeling.

"All I can say is that on that day you lost someone very precious to you and only time will make that pain a little easier to come to terms with."

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle called for improved safety measures at the Blue Lagoon, officially named Wards Reservoir, off Rivington Road.

Mr Hoyle said: "There ought to be information boards there.

"And consideration should be given in areas of danger where tragedies have happened, to whether it's feasible to actually fence this off to save lives in the future.

"A full health and safety investigation ought to take place into how we could protect people."

Julian Smith, manager of Belmont Bleaching and Dyeing company, which owns the reservoir said: "Our thoughts are very much with Nicholas's family at this time.

"Fencing off the reservoir is infeasible because there is a public right of way there.

"The message here is that people should not go swimming in any open water at all."

Nicholas was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital in just four minutes, but despite attempts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

In 2000, a 33-year-old man died after his dinghy capsized and he and his son were thrown into the water and in 1987 an 18-year-old from Chorley also died in the reservoir.

Neighbours in Mavis Road yesterday spoke of their shock at Nicholas's death.

One who did not wish to be named said: "He was a fairly quiet boy and was obviously well-liked around here.

"They are a lovely family and it is such a terrible, terrible thing to happen."

An inquest into Nicholas's death has been opened and adjourned at Preston Coroners' Court.