This is the teenager found dead near a village in Trafford

Tributes have been paid to a 15-year-old boy found dead near a village in Trafford.   Alex Rodda’s body was discovered on Ashley Mill Lane in Ashley, Cheshire – near the border with neighbouring Hale – early on Friday morning (December 13).  A teenager from Knutsford, aged 18, has been arrested on suspicion of his murder.  He remains in custody for questioning.  Alex – from the ‘Knutsford area’ – was a year 11 student at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School in Cheshire.  In a statement on the school’s website, executive headteacher Denis Oliver, said he would be ‘sorely missed’.  He said: “It is with great sadness that I need to inform you of the death of Alex Rodda, a student in Year 11 at our school.  “There has been much speculation on social media, however, the circumstances around Alex’s death are subject to an ongoing police investigation and we have been asked by them not to comment further at this stage.  “We will continue to cooperate fully with any requests from the police.  “The safety and wellbeing of our students is our priority.  “School will be open as normal on Monday and staff will be on hand to support students in anyway affected by this tragic loss.  “The senior leadership team are monitoring the situation closely over the weekend.  “Alex will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him within our close-knit school family.  “Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with Alex’s family and friends at this very sad time.”  Police say Alex’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.  Over the past 48 hours appeals have been widely shared on social media appealing for information about a ‘missing’ 15-year-old called Alex Rodda, from Knutsford.  In a statement released on Saturday (December 14), police said they were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death.  Detective Chief Inspector Simon Blackwell, of Cheshire Constabulary’s Major Crime Directorate, said: “Our thoughts are with Alex’s family at this extremely difficult time.  “They are currently being supported by specialist officers and we request for their privacy to be respected.  “We are in the very early stages of our investigation into Alex’s death, which we are treating as a murder.  “I would like to reassure the community that this is believed to be an isolated incident and we are doing everything we can to establish exactly what has taken place.  “Various enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone with any information or footage that may be relevant to our investigation to get in touch.”  A police cordon remained in place near a farm on Saturday morning (December 14) while investigators worked at the scene.  Forensic officers combed through a large woodland area for clues while police dogs assisted in the search.  A section of the road off Ashley Mill Lane – which runs through an area of fields and thick woodland – was closed off.  The Cheshire village sits below Hale and Bowdon in neighb

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