A headteacher has paid tribute to a teacher who died when he was hit by a train.
John Pratt, a maths teacher at Spalding Grammar School, died near Huntingdon at about 4.30pm on Thursday.
Headteacher Nigel Ryan sent an email to parents on Friday informing them of Mr Pratt’s death.
He said it was believed the young man, who was in his 20s, had taken his own life.
He had recently been suspended from the school while an investigation was carried out into allegations against him.
The nature of the allegations had not been revealed but Mr Ryan said they had nothing to do with current students at the school.
In the email to parents Mr Ryan said: “I received a visit from Britiah Transport Police to tell me John was killed by a train.
“The police have opened an inquiry but are treating his death as suicide.
“He had written a letter to his parents in which he attached no blame for his actions to the school or anybody in our community.”
Mr Ryan described Mr Pratt as a talented young man who gave his time and energy generously to school classroom and enrichment programmes.
He said: “He taught maths with great enthusiasm and undoubted subject knowledge to students of all mathematical abilities.
“He was a diligent colleague and loyal friend to many current and former staff.”
Mr Pratt, who was a trained engineer, also organised the school’s Duke of Edinburgh Awards for the past four years, enabling many students to progress from bronze to gold and reap the benefits of the scheme.
An assembly was held at the school yesterday morning to inform students of Mr Pratt’s death and Mr Ryan said counselling would be made available for students and staff who required it.