A Watford schoolboy who died in the Hillsborough disaster was unlawfully killed, a jury has concluded.

Sixteen-year-old Kester Ball was one of the 96 supporters to lose their lives on April 15, 1989.

The Ormskirk-born schoolboy was living in St Albans and attended Parmiter's School in Garston.

Kester had travelled to Hillsborough with his father Roger, a long-time Liverpool supporter, and his two best friends, both of whom survived.

Roger died last year - before today's verdict was reached.

Jurors at the inquest were told they could only conclude it was unlawful killing if they were sure of four "essential" matters concerning the deaths at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

After two years of evidence, they concluded it was by a 7-2 majority.

The conclusion was greeted with sobbing and cheers at the hearing in Warrington.

The jury also ruled that fan behaviour did not cause or contribute to the tragedy.

Kester was studying four A-levels in the lower sixth form at the time of his death.

His mother Brenda, who was at home in Farringford Close with his sister Juliette when the tragedy occurred, gave evidence to the inquest in which she described her son as ‘loving’ and not afraid to show his affection, even in front of his peers.

She said: “He was compassionate and made a positive impact on all who met him.”

Mrs Ball also said her son was a very loyal friend and brother with a sense of humour and fun-loving personality which had made him very popular.

“He was never bored and lived life to the full, accepting challenges, seeking new adventures and always striving to do his best,” she added.

Roger was carried out unconscious from the crush and when he came to, he searched for Kester without success until he was shown a Polaroid photo of his son which had been put up in a bus by police and from which he was able to identify him.

Mrs Ball, who no longer lives in Chiswell Green, told the inquest that Kester had written a project for school about himself when he was 11.

One chapter was called My Future Hopes in which he said he would like to study at university and go on to work in banking like his dad.

He wrote about wanting to get married and having two children and how, when he retired, he would like to live in the Lake District and do a lot of walking.

But, she said in her statement to the inquest, “Kester never achieved these future hopes. He died aged 16 years.”

The Hillsborough disaster unfolded during Liverpool's cup tie against Nottingham Forest on April 15 as thousands of fans were crushed at Sheffield Wednesday's ground.

Mr Duckenfield gave the order at 2.52pm to open exit Gate C in Leppings Lane, allowing around 2,000 fans to flood into the already packed central pens behind the goal.

The jury also found that both the police and the ambulance service caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster by an error or omission after the crush in the west terrace had begun to develop.

After the key conclusions were delivered, someone in court shouted "God bless the jury".

The jurors were given a round of applause as they left the courtroom.

Lawyers acting for relatives of the victims said the jury's conclusions had completely vindicated the bereaved families' tireless 27-year fight for justice.