THE mother of a teenager fatally injured in a Colne street told today how she pleaded with him to look into her eyes as he lay dying.

Sean Whyte, 17, of North Street, died from stab wounds after police received reports of a disturbance near his home on Monday night. He lived with his mum Mary, 36, and three brothers and sisters.

Mary paid tribute to her eldest son, who she described as "the joker of the family", and who moved to Colne from Dundee seven months ago.

Sean had worked as a fisherman in Dundee and was hoping to get a job as an IT apprentice in the Colne area. He was a regular at the North Valley Youth Club, in Birtwistle Avenue. He had also taken IT and other courses at Pendle Training's e2e centre.

Manager, Geoff Dawes, said today: "Sean was one of the brightest pupils we have had on the programme. He was a very popular young man who always had a smile and will be missed by everybody here. It is a real tragedy."

Dozens of floral tributes have been laid close to the place where he died, in North Street, and police forensic teams were still examining the scene for evidence yesterday.

Mary said: "I still can't believe it. Sean would never have hurt anyone and was a really good person.

"I saw him lying in the street and I held his hand. His eyes were staring straight up at the sky and I just kept saying 'Please, look at your mum'.

"Sean was such a good lad, always full of fun and full of life. He was a real entertainer and always said he wanted to be on Pop Idol.

"He was looking for a job as an IT apprentice and had a girlfriend. He had so many plans for the future."

Sean's elder sister Catherine, 19, added: "He was a very good listener and was looking forward to getting a job. Sean had so much too live for and he didn't deserve this."

His grandmother Bella, 60, who has travelled from Scotland to be with the family, said: "My grandson was the most beautiful, normal person there was. He was a gently giant and would never hurt anyone.

"The whole family is in shock."

Two brothers appeared in court yesterday in connection with the incident.

Hasan Mumtaz, 18, of North Street, is charged with the murder of Sean Whyte and violent disorder. Wasim Mumtaz, 20, of the same address, is also charged with violent disorder and faces a further allegation of wounding Mr Whyte's aunt, Agnes Rennie, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm.

Burnley magistrates remanded both men in custody to Preston Crown Court, where they will appear for a preliminary hearing on October 8.