THE inquest into the death of a teenager following a high-speed police chase has been opened.

Bev Beech, formally identified her son, Craig Morris, of Muirfield Way, Middlesbrough, at Teesside Coroner's Court yesterday.

The family of the 18-year-old took the decision to switch off his life support machine the day after the car he was travelling in hit a tree opposite the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

The accident happened outside the Toby Carvery, in Marton Road, in the early hours of Tuesday, February 22, after the car had been followed for several minutes by three police vehicles for allegedly ignoring a signal to pull over.

At times during the chase, the Vauxhall Vectra Mr Morris was a passenger in reached up to 70mph in residential areas.

Tributes and flowers have been tied to the tree where the accident took place. One card read: "We will never let you go Craig. And when things get tough we will be back. Mam and Chan." Another simply said: "Craig (Moga) thinking of you always -Beanhead and family."

Coroner Tony Eastwood adjourned the hearing until a date to be fixed.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission and an external force are carrying out an investigation into the accident.

Two people were seriously hurt in the incident. A 42-year-old and a 22 year-old man received hospital treatment. A 23-year-old has been questioned and released pending inquiries.