OUTRAGED friends and campaigners are planning a march and a three-minute silence to mark the death of a popular teenager killed in an alleged homophobic attack.

Michael Causer, of Whiston, died on Saturday, a little more than a week after being attacked.

The 18-year-old was walking past a quiet cul-de-sac on Tarbock Road, on the morning of Friday, July 25, when he was attacked.

He was admitted to Whiston Hospital at 11am and later transferred to the Walton Critical Care unit where he remained in a critical condition for eight days.

Doctors at Liverpool’s Walton Neurology Centre performed emergency surgery in an attempt to stem the swelling on his brain. But police confirmed he died at 12.30pm.

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

Now people such as campaigner Matthew Fox, of Liverpool, are gearing up for a march to commemorate Michael’s life and stand up against homophobia.

He said: “Marches take a little while to get organised, you need police approval and city council approval and you need lots of trained volunteer stewards.

“We could also have a minute’s silence in St John’s Garden at the memorial to victims of prejudice next Saturday.”

A march along Tarbock Road has been suggested in a fortnight, once the local authorities have been informed.

The city council’s first openly gay councillor, Steve Radford, said the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Forum will discuss the idea at the Quaker Meeting House this Wednesday.

Meanwhile, gay clubs in Liverpool played Michael’s favourite song on Saturday night and read messages of condolence to his family.