POLICE have launched a murder hunt after a teenager died following an apparently unprovoked attack at the weekend - hours after he had attended an uncle's wedding.

A police spokesman said Paul Smith, 18, was punched and the face and knocked to the ground by two youths as he left the Catholic Club in Dunhelm Road, Thornley, East Durham.

Paul, a keen footballer and Sunderland fan, had been out with his brother Stephen, 23, and an uncle Andrew Latham when they were confronted by two youths at 11.30pm on Saturday.

Detective Superintendent Tom Ryan, leading the murder investigation said: "Suddenly, without warning, one of the youths punched Stephen around the head, knocking his glasses off.

"Paul tried to intervene, but was struck himself and fell to the ground. While his brother attended to him, the youths ran off."

A passer-by called the emergency service when she found Paul lying on the road and believed he was the victim of a hit-and-run.

Paramedics found him unconscious and not breathing and despite determined efforts to revive him, he was declared dead at the scene at 12.45am on Sunday.

His brother Stephen suffered facial injuries and was last night recovering in Hartlepool General Hospital with a suspected fractured jaw.

Home Office pathologist James Sunter determined that Paul had died of injuries consistent with having being struck a blow to the head.

The attack happened just a short walk from his home in Thornlaw North, where he lived with his brother, mother and stepfather.

Mr Ryan said Paul had earlier in the day attended the wedding of another uncle in Peterlee, after which he had returned to babysit for an aunt in Thornley.

He had recently completed his GCSE's at St Bede's Comprehensive and planned to study engineering at Peterlee College this term.

Det Supt Ryan said: "Our inquiries so far do not suggest Paul, his brother or uncle were involved in any trouble at the club."

One of the youths is described as 16 to 18 years old, with short dark hair and dark clothing. The second was of a similar age 5ft 5in - 5ft 8in, with bleached blonde hair and wearing white or cream-coloured tracksuit with a dark motif or logo on the top.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact contact 0191-586 2621.

Last night his mum Anne, a residential care home worker, was being comforted at the family home.

They were too distressed to talk about the tragedy but a stunned neighbour said: "It is absolutely tragic and the family are understandably devastated.

"Paul was a lovely lad and his life has been taken away from him. I just hope police catch who did this and they are punished.

"The family had been celebrating a family wedding. What should have been a happy day has ended in a terrible tragedy."