A TEENAGER was yesterday charged with the manslaughter of a 17-year-old student who died after being attacked outside a pizza takeaway.

It is understood Daniel Crowther was punched to the ground and hit his head on the kerb as he tried to stop a group of youths pushing their way into the queue outside College Pizzas in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

The Stokesley School student suffered serious head injuries in the incident which happened shortly after midnight on Saturday. He died in hospital less than three hours later.

Four people were arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of murder and one - a 17-year-old from nearby Guisborough was yesterday charged with manslaughter.

The three others - a 25-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl, both from Middlesborough, and a 17-year-old youth from Guisborough - have all been released on conditional police bail as enquiries continue.

Yesterday Daniel's distraught family, still trying to come to terms with his sudden death, issued a statement.

"Daniel meant the world to us," they said. "He was a lovely young man who had a bright future and the rest of his life to look forward to.

"He was bright and popular with lots of friends who will be just as devastated as we are that his life has been cut so tragically short.

"The loss of Daniel has left a huge hole in our lives and we would now like to be left to grieve in private."

Police were called to the scene, outside College Pizzas, in College Square, at around 12.05am on Saturday and quickly cordoned it off.

Daniel - know to his friends as Dan - was rushed to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough but never recovered from his injuries and was pronounced dead at around 2.50am.

It is understood that Daniel, who lived in Stokesley, had gone out for a drink with friends in the Spread Eagle pub on Friday evening.

He left the group to get a pizza as they headed elsewhere, telling them he would rejoin them in 15 minutes - but never did.

Friends described him as a popular student who was not a trouble-maker.

One, Jack Newman, 18, said: "Dan was a very popular lad, the life and soul of the party and always cracking jokes. He's not the type of lad that's pumped up for a fight."

Yesterday flowers left by well-wishers bedecked the scene and such was his popularity that a tribute page was quickly set up on the social-networking site Facebook.

Last night weeping teenagers comforted each other in Stokesley town centre, where more than 100 bouquets were laid last night.

Jonathan Weldon, 18, said: "He had the biggest smile in the world. He was a very gentle person, he probably hadn't ever seen a fight before. You only just had to see him once for a slight second to see how happy he was with life. He was the most bubbly person you can think of.

He added: "If anyone was feeling any less than perfect he would wrap his arms around them.

Hollie Waite, 17, said: "He never got embarrassed and he never followed what everyone else was doing, he was his own person. I'll remember his laugh. He used to tell rubbish jokes but no one could help laugh at them."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward with information.

The man leading the inquiry, Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw, said: "A charcoal-coloured Volkswagen Polo, which has been seized by police, is believed to be connected to the incident and we would like to speak to anyone who saw that vehicle in the area at the time."

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 0845 6060 247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

*A 17-year-old youth from Guisborough will appear before magistrates at Harrogate charged with manslaughter at 10am this morning.