A teenager has died a week after he suffered massive head injuries in an alleged homophobic attack, police said today.

The 18-year-old, Michael Causer, was beaten up on Tarbock Road, Huyton, Merseyside, on Friday, 25 July.

Police were alerted when the youngster was admitted to Whiston Hospital at 11am that morning following the assault.

He had been in a critical condition ever since and died earlier today, Merseyside Police confirmed.

Detectives have described the incident as a “homophobic hate crime”.

Two men have appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm and a third has been charged with witness intimidation.

In the past week almost 800 people joined a Facebook group set up in support of Mr Causer.

Messages have been left on the site by his family and friends as well as other well-wishers.

Mr Causer, who was openly gay, was found by paramedics on Tarbock Road lying still in a pool of blood.

Last week doctors at Liverpool’s Walton Neurology Centre performed emergency surgery in an attempt to stem the swelling on his brain.

His distraught family had kept a bedside vigil at the hospital.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said Mr Causer died shortly after midday.

A post mortem will be carried out tomorrow.

He would not say if police are now considering bringing murder charges against the two men accused of the attack.

James O’Connor, 19, of Reeds Road, and Gavin Alker, also 19, of Woolfall Crescent, both Huyton, have appeared in court and been bailed on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The third man, Christopher Douglas, 19, of Page Moss Avenue, Huyton, appeared before magistrates yesterday charged with witness intimidation.

Merseyside Police confirmed the victim’s name is Michael Causer.