A HEARTBROKEN mother spoke of her shock today after her son was found dead in the toilet of a homeless day centre next to an empty can of lighter fuel.

Marion Shankly, who has five other children, said she could not believe that George, 17, had been sniffing its contents at Fuse Box, part of Nightsafe, in Pilkington Street, near Blackburn Boulevard.

And she made a plea for the police to give her answers to what had happened to him - after being unable to contact the officers involved in the inquiry because they had been on leave.

Marion, of Heys Close, in the Livesey area of Blackburn, believes George may have been assaulted as, when she identified his body, his nose appeared to have been bitten.

But a police spokesman said George's death was not being treated as suspicious.

He added that, at this stage, George was thought to have died from an overdose, although the investigation was still to establish exactly what had happened.

George was found by a member of Nightsafe staff at 12.50pm on Monday slumped behind a bathroom door. Paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Marion believed George had been living at Nightsafe for about a month, although Paula Kaniuk, the centre's manager, said she could not comment on such details due to confidentiality.

Marion said George, a former pupil of Bank Hey special school in Heys Lane, Blackburn, moved out of home four weeks ago because he wanted some independence. She said he went to Nightsafe and told them he was homeless so he would get a place to live because being unemployed meant he could not afford to rent a house.

She said George was not academically gifted but was talented at woodwork and wanted to pursue a career in this field. He was hoping to take a holiday to Russia with Nightsafe next month and then try to become a joiner.

Marion said, with his recent moves towards independence, he seemed to have everything to live for, which made his death harder to take. She told how she last saw him on Sunday: "He came around and had his tea. He was a good lad and a little bit of a loner, although he mixed with all sorts of people.

"You took him as you found him. He could be very cheeky. He seemed normal on Sunday.

"His death was totally out of the blue. I couldn't not believe it."

Marion said she had been unable to contact the two officers investigating the incident and a police spokesman confirmed they had been on leave.

Marion said she had concerns about his death, including the bite mark.

She added: "He wasn't on drugs. He never did anything like that with the lighter fuel. I want to know why he had a bite mark on his nose.

"People around here are saying that a couple of lads were with him when he died, but ran off when he collapsed.

"I think the police believe he is just another 17-year-old lad found next to a gas canister and think they know what happened.

"But I believe there is more to this than just the lighter fuel."

A police spokesman said: "The investigation into the sudden death hasn't yet been explained and the possibility is that it may be an overdose.

"It is not being treated as suspicious and the full circumstances will be reported to the coroner in due course."

Paula Kaniuk added: "All the staff and the young people are devastated. We just feel the deepest sympathy for George's family."

An inquest has been opened and adjourned until December 9.