THE teenager who died at a North-East rave at the weekend was named yesterday as Russell Kirby.

An inquest into the death of the 18-year-old was opened and adjourned yesterday in Newcastle, as police continued to wait for blood test results they hope will reveal how he died.

The shop assistant, from Piper Road, Ovingham, Northumberland, took ill during a rave at the Telewest Arena, Newcastle, early on Sunday morning.

Paramedics took him to Newcastle General Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. An initial post-mortem examination failed to establish a cause of death.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: "A post-mortem examination has proved inconclusive and we are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

"Police have now concluded the examination of the scene and other inquiries into the circumstances of this death are continuing."

The teenager was one of a sell-out crowd of 7,500 party-goers at the nine-hour event, which featured performances from some of the biggest names in dance music. It was held to mark the fifth birthday of Birmingham-based club night, Godskitchen.

A Telewest Arena spokesman said staff were working with police. Gods-kitchen organisers said it was the first time a serious incident of this kind had happened at one of its events.

An ice hockey match between Newcastle Vipers and Basingstoke due to take place on Sunday was cancelled, while police sealed off the area and attempted to trace the young man's friends.