A DISTRAUGHT mother today told of the final moments before her 12-year-old son was found hanged in the bedroom of his home.

Lynn Smith, of Oak Street, Great Harwood, and her husband found Mathew, a pupil at Norden High School, Rishton, with a belt around his neck at 8.30pm on Sunday night.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said both tried to help revive him, and called an ambulance, but Mathew was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Today Lynn said: "Matthew did not commit suicide. He was chastised like any other child for giving cheek and he was sent to his room to do an hour's homework.

"His dad then said 'You can go to bed when you have done that.' He came and kissed me and he knew that I was going upstairs then for a bath.

"He was a prankster and went in his bedroom to play a trick on me because he thought I was going in.

"He had put a belt around his neck and stood on the windowsill. He was waiting for me to go in and say 'What are you doing,' but he was wearing socks at the time and slipped off.

"It was a tragic accident. He was such a lovely child."

A police spokesman said: "We are investigating but we are not treating it as suspicious."

Detective Sergeant Simon Giles, of Accrington CID, said: "It's a tragic event and very sad for the family who are extremely distressed. We have appointed a family liaison officer to offer assistance and help them through this grief-stricken time."