A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has been found dead in his bed after a night out drinking alcohol with his friends.

The parents of Anthony Riley, of Brunshaw Avenue, Burnley, today told how he was found by his 11-year-old brother after complaining of a headache and feeling sick.

They said they feared the death may have been caused by a fit unrelated to alcohol. But police investigating the death today said they believed he had been drinking vodka and were today interviewing four of his friends to find out how much he had drunk.

Tributes were paid to the boy during an assembly yesterday at St Theodore's High School, Burnley, where he was a pupil.

Anthony's parents, Ian, 45, and Ann, 52, who both have cerebral palsy, said he liked to have a drink when out with his friends although he never went over the top. Ann said: "Like a lot of teenagers he would sometimes have the odd bottle of alcopops in the street but he would never get drunk and would always come home on time.

"On Saturday morning he came down and said he had a really bad headache and felt sick, he had been suffering from migraines in the past so I told him to go back to bed and have a cup of tea. I asked him if he had been drinking but he told me he had only had one bottle of alcopop.

"We had to go out to take Julian dancing at 11am and left Anthony in bed. When we came back at 1pm, Julian went upstairs to see if Anthony was alright which was when he found him. We phoned 999 but it was too late, he was already gone."

Police said it appeared Anthony had been out drinking with friends on Friday night and had returned home at about 10pm.

They said the next morning he complained of feeling unwell and vomiting and returned to bed. An ambulance was called when he was found but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital.

A police spokesman today said: "It appears Anthony had been out with friends on Friday night and returned home at about 10pm.

"The next morning he complained of feeling unwell and vomited and returned to bed.

"It appears that Anthony had been drinking vodka with four friends and they may have consumed a full bottle between them. The children who were with him were due to be interviewed by officers to try to establish how much he had drunk and whether this could be related to his death."

The couple, who also Keiran, 21, were today trying to come to terms with their loss.

Anthony was a keen Burnley and Liverpool supporter and played football and ran for the school team.

His headmaster, Pat McKiernan, today paid tribute to a young man who always gave his best in everything he did. He said: "He was an extremely cheerful young person who always had a smile on his face. He was a very popular student and had many friends both within and outside the school.

"Anthony was a well motivated and enthusiastic young man. He was also a keen sportsman who had successfully represented the school at football and cross country running. Two weeks ago he represented the town in Lancashire schools cross country running team helping the team to finish third.

"He was also keen on basketball and played football for the junior Clarets."

A special assembly was held yesterday and a memorial trophy for cross country is now being planned by the school and will be presented at the sports presentation evening in June.

Mr McKiernan added: "The whole of our school community, governors, staff, pupils and parents offer our most sincere condolences to all his family and friends. He will be sadly missed."

Anthony will be buried in his school uniform alongside a Liverpool shirt which has been filled with tributes from his friends.

His father Ian added: "We would like to say thank you to everybody for all the cards and kind words. Life will never be the same without Anthony, he was one in a million."