A FAMILY today spoke about their hell after a teenage friend of tragic Melissa Strickson went missing for a week and said: "We feared he could be dead too."

Darwen boy Christopher Wells went missing for a week before being found safe and well yesterday. Melissa, his friend and a fellow pupil at Moorland High School died from a suspected overdose of pills on Wednesday.

The 13-year-old, of Tythebarn Street, Darwen, was found unconscious at a house in Sudell Road by sister Vicky after they and two other friends had stayed the night there.

Christopher, also a Moorland pupil, had been missing since last Friday teatime.

His grandad William Fairley of Nancy Street who has looked after Christopher, together with his wife Annie, since he was 18 months old, said: "I don't know if he has been in the house where Melissa died, I've no idea , he's the only one who can say that.

"Christopher knew Melissa very well -- they were good pals. When Christopher went missing before she gave me umpteen addresses where he might be." Mr Fairley, 53, said Christopher had been wearing the same clothes he had left home in for over a week and he had spotted him but had been unable to catch him.

He was convinced somebody had taken him in as he would not have been sleeping rough and liked to have company. He said: "He runs about like a mad fiend. Last time he went missing my brother-in-law and I spent three days looking for him and we were up until all hours in the morning."

Mr Fairley's wife Annie, 54 had been out every day searching for Christopher since he went missing.

Paul Wilkinson, 14, another Moorland pupil who was also missing was found safe and well on Tuesday night but the two boys had been together and had stayed in a derelict house in Olive Lane.

Sgt Andrea Bradbury of Darwen police said they were pleased and relieved that Christopher had been found safe and well as his grandad had been very concerned.

Christopher had been at the Punch Bowl Inn on Roman Road and the landlady had alerted the police.