POLICE have urged people to think before posting comments on social media as they could be committing an offence.

The message comes after a person in Flintshire posted a distasteful comment about the death of nine-year-old Jordan Banks on Facebook yesterday.

The original comment sparked other Facebook users to comment, and the Flintshire North Policing Team say they have spoken to a number of individuals.

Sgt Matt Subacchi asked that people leave the matter to the police rather than taken action into their own hands or making further comments on social media.

He said that the original post had been removed after officers spoke to an individual.

Sgt Subacchi said: "A local person made a comment on social media and that person has been spoken to. There was quite a backlash on social media and we have spoken to a number of people who made comments. We ask that this stops and the matter is left to the police.

"Following our advice the person that made the comment has removed it.

"We are continuing to look at the matter and ask everyone else to leave the matter for police to do what they need to do. It is important to say that other people have been spoken to in following comments they made to the original post. Those comments have also been removed.

"We will continue to review comments made on all social media platforms and ask people to consider what kind of messages they put on them. Comments made on social media can constitute an offence. There is a belief that you can say what you want on social media without facing consequences - this is not the case.

"If we come across it we will deal with it."

Meanwhile, the family of Jordan who died after being struck by lightning have paid tribute to him, saying “he was our everything”.

The nine-year-old, from Blackpool, died after being seriously injured on a football field near School Road just after 5pm on Tuesday evening.

He was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

Tributes have been paid by Sir Kenny Daglish, Liverpool footballer James Milner, and football clubs throughout the country.