A heartbroken family have paid tribute to their 17-year-old son who is feared dead after plunging 165ft into a river at a Highland waterfall.

Laurence Parrott was playing with friends at the Falls of Foyers, near Inverness, when it is understood he jumped into the fast-flowing river from a massive height.

Despite a two-day search there has still been no trace of the teenager, who is from Errogie near the Highland capital.

His parents said on Monday night: "Our whole family is devastated at the loss of our son. Laurence was full of life and was very determined, excelling at everything he put his mind to. We cannot put into words the loss that we feel and would ask that our family be left alone to grieve in peace."

The teenager attended Stratherrick Primary and Inverness Royal Academy and was a drummer in a band called 'The Soundtrack'.

The alarm was raised just before 5pm on Sunday when the teenager was seen near the Falls of Foyers.

The gully is at the bottom of the 165ft falls and forms part of the Foyers river which flows into Loch Ness.

The local inshore lifeboat crew was first on scene and immediately searched the mouth of the river.

They were joined by a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth, local Coastguard shore teams from Inverness and Fort Augustus and police officers, including handlers with sniffer dogs.

Fire and ambulance crews were also called to the scene. The search was called off as darkness fell, but resumed at first light on Monday.

Extensive searches of the river, shore and loch area continued and items of clothing were found, but the boy's whereabouts remains unknown.