THE suspected gas sniffing den where 14-year-old James Edward Mather was found slumped hours before his death has been dismantled.

Staff from Hyndburn Borough Council's works department removed the den within an hour of a police request.

James, of Melbourne Street, Oswaldtwistle, was found by a friend in the hideaway at the junction of John Street and Merlin Drive on Thursday with a butane gas canister nearby.

A post-mortem examination on Friday proved inconclusive and further tests are now being conducted.

Peter Clegg, manager of Hyndburn Borough Council's works department, said: "Following a request from police on Friday afternoon we removed the tree hut.

"They called to request its removal and we responded within an hour."

Residents in the area said they had often complained about the children congregating in that area but no specific complaints had been made about them 'sniffing'.

James' uncle Joseph Barnes said: "If it is true that it was gas that killed him, we would like it to act as a warning to other people. Please be careful and don't do this sort of thing."

His parents, Arthur and Betty Mather, both 53, were too distressed to speak in public about what happened to their son.

The purchasing of butane gas by under 18s was made illegal in October 1999 under the Cigarette Lighter Refill Safety Regulations -- but shops in East Lancashire have still been caught selling it.

Trading Standard officers prosecuted a number of traders after test purchasing exercises at 19 different outlets in the county last year where young people 'bought' lighter fuel refills.

The inhalation of butane gas accounts for 60 per cent of all solvent abuse-related deaths and is the biggest 'killer' in that category . So far this year there have been 40 deaths nationwide.