The grief-stricken family of a teenager who died after being knocked down by a stolen car on a playing field paid tribute to their "quiet, football-loving" son last night.

Fifteen-year-old Ian Gourley had met friends on the field at Eden Lane in Peterlee, County Durham, at about 8.30pm on Wednesday when a car crashed into him.

The black Ford Escort - registration J792 GTN - had been stolen the night before and was later found burnt out in a ravine less than a mile away.

Last night his parents, Alan and Lavinia, described the youngest of their five children as "a quiet lad who wouldn't hurt a fly and who has never been in trouble". They said: "He loved playing his computer games and football and was an avid supporter of Sunderland."

Ian, who lived in Lakemore, Peterlee, was the youngest of five children, his two older brothers and sisters having grown up and moved away. He was a pupil at Belmont Comprehensive School in Durham.

A police spokesman said yesterday that initial statements had been taken from the traumatised teenage boy and girl who were with Ian at the time. Ian suffered head injuries and died soon after arriving at Hartlepool General Hospital.

On Wednesday night, he had been due to visit an uncle's house to watch the Wales and Scotland games.

But for some reason he had had a change of heart and went to the field with his friends.

Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson said the case was being treated as a murder-style inquiry, adding: "We are throwing massive resources at this case."

* Anyone with information is asked to call Peterlee police station on 0191-375 2660 or 0191-375 2662.