POLICE charged seven teenagers with the murder of 24-year-old Teesside man Shane Tunney yesterday evening.

Cleveland Police said the seven men - two aged 16, three aged 17 and two aged 18 - were re-arrested yesterday (Thursday, September 17) and charged with murder in connection with the investigation into the death.

Shane died in hospital almost five weeks after the incident on Holly Street in Norton on Saturday, June 17.

He had suffered severe head injuries after he was punched, kicked and possibly beaten with an iron bar.

Last month, police confirmed the driver of an Audi A3 or S3 that was parked near to the Tesco Express had come forward

Police said the assault happened at 2am on June 27,  when Shane and his friend, Anthony Kirk, visited a cash machine at Tesco Express on Norton High Street on their way to a local takeaway.

An argument took place with a group of young men who had climbed onto the roof of Tesco Express and pelted the two friends with food. The men then walked away in the direction of Norton Road.

A short time later, the pals were confronted and then allegedly assaulted by a group of youths at the junction of Holly Street.

Police believe that an implement was used in the attack and that the pair were kicked, stamped on and punched.

Shane was hailed a hero after being offered a lift away from the scene by a passing motorist, but he refused to leave his friend.

The group of youths made off through an alley next to the church, away from the High Street.

After the attack his girlfriend, Vix Cooper, 23, made an emotional appeal for help, saying: "Our whole lives have come to a halt. We can’t get on with normal things and we put all our effort into supporting Shane.

"Imagine that this was your partner, son or daughter, brother or sister, or friend. You would want to know everything was being done for your loved one, so please do the same for mine.

“A lot of people, because they might have only seen something quite minimal, might not think that it is that important really, but it is probably more important than they could ever imagine."

But Shane never recovered from his injuries, and died in hospital less than a week later.

More than 70 vehicles took part in a tribute to the popular car valeter, with his family and friends joining the cavalcade as it drove down Norton High Street, before heading to Preston Park, in Eaglescliffe, where blue balloons - his favourite colour - were released into the sky.

Five of the seven men will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court in Middlesbrough today. The other two arrested teenagers, who are already remanded in custody, will appear at the same court on Monday, September 21.