A MOTHER said she is mystified why her son went for an early morning ride in a car which ended in a fatal accident.

Linda Riley said her son Anthony Breeze had been watching a video at 1am, but just one hour later was fighting for his life after the Vauxhall Nova he was a front seat passenger in collided with a minibus on Manchester Road, Astley.

The 22-year-old, of West Avenue, Leigh, suffered serious injuries and died at Salford's Hope Hospital hours after the crash last Sunday.

Mrs Riley, of Firs Lane, said his family, including his four sisters and one brother, are still trying to piece together his last movements.

"We know he had stayed in watching a video because his ex-girlfriend Lisa Seddon rang him at about 1am. But we aren't sure why he went out, or where he was going," she said.

Anthony had worked as a dental laboratory worker at Dental Linkline, in Leigh and, more recently, at Alphason Design, of Atherton.

Mrs Riley added: "He had so many friends. Everyone in Leigh knew him -- he enjoyed life and loved going out at weekends. We will be celebrating his life because that's what he would have wanted."

Also injured in the accident was 16-year-old Sarah West, from Leigh, who had to be cut free from the rear seat by firefighters. She suffered a broken leg and her condition at Hope Hospital is described as stable.

Car driver Christopher Garlick, aged 18, from Leigh, suffered minor bruising and shock and the 61-year-old mini bus driver, from Hindley Green, was shocked, but uninjured. There were no passengers in the mini-bus. Anyone with information should contact Leigh Traffic Police on 0161 856 7273/4.

Anthony's funeral will take place on January 30 at 1.15pm at Bedford Church, followed by burial at Leigh Cemetery.