A PENARTH primary school head teacher has been found dead, the Vale of Glamorgan Council has confirmed.

A body - believed to be that of Huw Jones, the head teacher of Albert Primary School - was found yesterday.

A spokesperson for the Vale of Glamorgan Council said: “On February 1, South Wales Police informed the council that they had found a body they believe to be that of Huw Jones, Albert Primary School’s head teacher.

"We have informed staff, parents, and pupils of this sad news today.

"A counselling service is being made available to provide any support that is required.”

The news comes just days after the school received a green categorisation - the highest rating - in the Welsh Government’s bandings system.

The school was also rated as excellent in their Estyn inspection from 2015.

Mr Jones, 51, ran the London Marathon in 2010 to raise awareness and money for a diabetes charity.

He also appeared on a special Shrove Tuesday edition of Channel 4 programme Come Dine With Me.

Mr Jones filmed the Channel 4 series in 2011 but it has been repeated many times - showing him tossing pancakes for fun.

Announcing the news of his death, Paula Ham, the Vale's director of learning and skills, sent an email to parents of her "deep sadness."

She said: “The school will remain open today and staff will be on site. If you wish to take your child out of school today you will be able to do so at any time.

“A counselling service will be made available to all pupils and staff within the school.”

One parent, who did not want to be named, said: “This is a terrible tragedy.

"He was such a good sport and even went on Come Dine with Me.

"He was one of those heads you could easily talk to.

“Mr Jones has been at this school for about 12 years and is very popular. He has been under a lot of pressure like a lot of heads these days.

“We feel so sorry for his family.”

Tributes have come in from town councillors, with Rosemary Cook describing the news as "deeply sad".

St. Augustines ward member Mrs Cook added: "Having attended my first Governor’s meeting at Albert Road on Monday I was so impressed by the obvious energy and enthusiasm that Huw Jones gave to his work.  

"He will be sadly missed and my thoughts and prayers are with his family, the staff of Albert Road and everyone involved."

Fellow Labour councillor Gwyn Roberts said that Mr Jones' death would be keenly felt by the community.

"It’s desperately sad news, Huw ran the school excellently. It wasn’t a bad school before he arrived but Huw improved it quite markedly," said Mr Roberts.

"Albert Primary is a popular school helped by quite a close community so the effect of this will only spread out.

He added: "He was very well known, very successful and it's a desperate loss. He was somebody who seemed so full of life."

Penarth's MP Stephen Doughty and AM Vaughan Gething said: "We have been made aware of the tragic death of Huw Jones. 

"Our thoughts are with his family and the whole school community at Albert Primary School."