A NATIONAL campaign group has thrown its weight behind a family seeking answers into the death of their 14-year-old boy - the youngest person in the country to die while in custody.

Inquest, a group which monitors deaths in custody, made the announcement as an official inquest opened in Durham yesterday into the death of Adam Rickwood.

Adam was found hanged in his room at Hassockfield Centre, Consett, County Durham, at about midnight on Sunday.

Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, said: "We have made contact with the family and have organised for one of our very experienced solicitors to take on the case.

"We will be working with the family both around the individual circumstances of death and also trying to put further pressure on the Home Secretary to set up a public inquiry into the treatment of children by the justice system.

"We will also be putting them in touch with other families in similar circumstances - that can often provide very important support."

Adam's mother, Carol Pounder, of Burnley, Lancashire, claimed he was supposed to have been on suicide watch after having threatened to kill himself weeks earlier.

Magistrates had remanded him to the centre for an alleged breach of bail conditions pending his trial of a charge of wounding.

Mrs Pounder said: "We have been told there was a note found in Adam's room, but it was taken away by the police and we have not been able to see it and have not even been told of its contents.

"I'd like to know what was written because it might help answer some of the questions I have got."

The national Youth Justice Board has launched an investigation into the death, which police are not treating as suspicious.

A police spokesman said it would be at the coroner's discretion when any material was released.