YOUNGSTERS were in tears after a teenage scooter rider was killed in an accident at the weekend.

Danny Fitton, aged 18, was riding his bike along Albert Road in Farnworth when he is thought to have clipped a kerb near the Texaco petrol station at 9.25pm on Saturday night.

The impact sent him sprawling from his Peugeot scooter and it is believed his helmet was dislodged before he hit the ground and suffered serious head injuries.

A passing motorist stopped and called the emergency services, but Danny died shortly afterwards at the Royal Bolton Hospital despite the efforts of doctors to revive him.

Albert Road was closed for more than an hour while police carried out an investigation into the cause of the accident.

A police spokesman said it was not thought that any other vehicles were involved, but officers are continuing to appeal for information from witnesses.

Danny was a former Little Lever secondary school pupil and lived at Brentwood Drive, Moses Gate.

Throughout the day, tearful friends and family turned up at the scene leaving cards and ribbons tied to a street sign outside the garage.

Floral tributes from devastated friends and family were also placed at the scene of the accident over the weekend.

There were also empty cans, balloons and teddies.

One message, from his mother, read:"To my darling son, you were my first born and nothing can fill the empty space in my heart. Sleep peacfully."

At the scene of the tribute, Danny's best friend Anthony Derbyshire, aged 20, said: He was the life and soul of the party. He was someone so different and really special.

"He had his own way of doing things and kept people amused. He was like a big brother to all his friends and could really cheer people up. We are all really going to miss him so much."

Mohammed Arif, an assistant at the garage, said: "I was serving a customer at the time but I heard the horrible sound of the crash.

"I looked outside and saw the bike on the ground, and saw the helmet in the middle of the road, and the guy was on the ground.

"I couldn't leave the shop but I called the ambulance straight away."

Police officers are still trying to trace members of the Danny's family to inform them of the tragedy.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact the traffic unit on 0161 856 7273 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.