A GRIEVING father says he will not visit his son's grave because the headstone was paid for by social services -- who he blames for the teenager's death.

Wayne Cook, 41, of Leigh -- whose 13 year-old son Shane died following a car crash in March -- plans to return the headstone and buy a replacement.

Back seat passenger Shane died on March 16 after a 1.30am car smash at Salmesbury, near Preston.

Mr Cook says his son should not have been allowed out in Samlesbury when the accident happened as he was under the care of Blackburn with Darwen social services.

He believes the headstone at Pleasington Cemetery, paid for by Blackburn with Darwen social services, is a reminder of why Shane's ashes are buried there.

He said: "I begged and pleaded for them to put him in secure accommodation but they wouldn't."

Shane lived with his father until early 2002 when he went into care in Wigan. He later went to stay with his mother in Blackburn where last November was taken into social services' care.