MYSTERY still surrounds the death of a teenage boy found dead in a town centre flat.

An inquest into the death of 14-year-old Edward Barry was due to take place last Tuesday (May 11) but was adjourned until July while a “further report” is carried out.

Edward’s body was discovered in an apartment in a house in Parrock Street, Gravesend, in the early hours of November 20 last year.

A toxicology report showed the Gravesend Grammar School for Boys pupil had traces of the drugs methadone and diazepam in his system.

However, his parents Patrick and Justine, from Gravesend, said they were not jumping to conclusions and would “wait for the coroner to decide the cause of his death.”

Announcing the decision to adjourn the inquest at Gravesend Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, coroner Roger Hatch said: “Extensive inquiries have been carried out but we are awaiting a further report.”

Edward was being supported by Kent County Council’s (KCC) children's social services department before he died, and it has launched an investigation into his death.

Neighbours of the house where Edward’s body was found say he did not live there and was one of a number of teenagers who frequently came and went from the property.

Following Edward’s death, his parents said: "Ed was a very much loved son, brother and friend.”

Flowers with messages of condolence were left outside the house where his body was found and tribute groups on social networking website Facebook were set up after his death.