A teenager has died from head injuries after he panicked and ran when confronted by police.

Max Weston, 16, is not thought to have committed any crime before he fled from officers.

But he may have feared police would tell his family he had been drinking with friends.

He was found critically injured at the foot of a wall near Ditchling Court in Brighton.

Last night it was unclear whether the matter had been reported to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

It was also unclear how Max died.

Family and friends have paid tribute to the teenager, who was studying construction at City College Brighton and Hove.

Max was with two friends when he was approached by police in Ditchling Road at 9.45pm on December 1.

He was taken to the neurological unit at Hurstwood Park Hospital in Haywards Heath but died on Thursday afternoon.

Parents Kerry and Darron, of Osborne Road, Brighton, have asked for people who know anything about their son's death to contact them.

They said: "All the family would like to thank everybody for their kindness at this most difficult time.

"We would particularly like to thank the nurses, doctors and consultant for their unwavering efforts to save Max.

"He was the love of our life.

"He would do anything for anybody and was growing into adulthood, looking forward to all the pleasures of life, which have so tragically been denied him.

"It is going to be very difficult to come to terms with this and we would deeply appreciate it if anyone with information would contact us."

Friends insisted Max had not done anything wrong when he was stopped.

Dismissing some insensitive comments on The Argus website, one poster wrote: "The reason Max ran was because the police wanted to take him home and as he had had some beer he knew it would upset his parents."

Max was a former pupil of Varndean School in Balfour Road, Brighton.

He enjoyed going to the gym, playing football and riding his moped.

He leaves behind his sister Katy, eight, who saw him as her hero.

Friends have spoken of their grief.

Chloe Spicer, 16, of Withdean, Brighton, was in the same class as Max at school.

She said: "He was a friendly, kind and warm-hearted person who would always be there for me.

"He will be in my thoughts and I'll miss him every day."

Maisie Balley, 16, of Ditchling Road, Brighton, was also in his class.

She said: "He was funny, bubbly and a big party animal who loved to have a laugh."

Ryan Martin, 16, of Withdean, said: "Whenever his mates were feeling down he would cheer them up."

Robbie Collins, 15, of Mile Oak, Portslade, said: "He was always smiling and would make me laugh all the time."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "There is no indication at this stage that any crime has been committed but an inquest will take place in due course."

An Independent Police Complaints Commission spokeswoman said she could not say whether the matter was being investigated.

Max's family want people with information to email them at john.deacon603@ntlworld.com.

Witnesses should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 quoting serial 1530 of 1/12/07.