GRIEF-STRICKEN parents have issued a heartfelt plea to youngsters after the tragic death of their 14-year-old son.

Robert James Pownall died at the weekend after experimenting with solvent abuse for the first time.

Paramedics were rushed to Cross Way, off Middlewich Street, in Crewe, on Saturday evening at 7.08pm but Robert was pronounced dead on arrival at Leighton Hospital.

Just an hour earlier Robert, who suffered from asthma, had been speaking on the phone with his parents, Craig and Sue, who this week were coming to terms with their loss.

A post-mortem has failed to establish whether the solvent actually caused Robert's death but it is thought to be a contributory factor and further tests are being carried out.

However, Sue has paid tribute to her son and also spoke out in a desperate bid to stop other youngsters dicing with death.

"I would try to explain what I am going through and what the family and friends are going through," she said.

Robert displayed none of the physical signs of solvent abuse according to Sue, and she is sure it was his first time.

"I had no idea, I would tell children not to do it and not even to attempt it, they do not think it is going to kill them, they do not think it is going to do any harm.

"When they do it they do not think of the damage, they think of the high, but it happened so quickly, just an hour.

"I just hope he has not died in vain and other children learn from this.

"If just one child does not use solvents then we feel he will have achieved something," Sue added.

Robert leaves three brothers, Andrew, aged 27, Gary, 10 and Chris 7, and two sisters, Donna, aged 17 and Mandie, 26.

The sports-loving teenager was a pupil at Ruskin High School and before that Beechwood Primary School in Crewe and played on numerous sports teams.

He enjoyed football, being a Manchester United fan, but he had also started going to see Crewe Alexandra play during which time they had never lost.

Robert enjoyed roller-skating and skate-boarding as well as pool, rugby and swimming and had his eyes set on being in the army when he eventually finished his education.

"There have been so many rumours and I just want people to know the real side of him," Sue continued.

"He was loving and caring, he was your typical lad, a lovable rogue. He had his own character, he was not a loud-mouthed yob and did not bring trouble to the door.

Sue explained that at the recent funeral of Robert's grandad his true nature shone through: "When his Grandad died we had no bearers and Robert asked to be a bearer. He did me proud.

"We have seen that side of him but it was the first time that it had come out in the open.

"It hurts to think I was not there when he died and I just want youngsters all to learn from what has happened.

The funeral is being held on Wednesday, next week, and Craig and Sue have invited Robert's school friends to the service which is being held at North Street Methodist Church at 10.30am.

Sue stressed the dress was informal as that is how Robert would have liked it: "He was always going around in his casual clothes.

"We are all going to miss him, I do not know how we are going to get by without him," Sue added.