A grieving father has paid tribute to his sports-mad 15-year-old son, who died in a car crash in Bradford.

Schoolboy Saliq Malik was a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf which crashed into a parked car, lamppost and wall in Gilpin Street, Barkerend.

He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital later the same day.

The funeral of the talented teenage footballer was taking place today, after Assistant Coroner Oliver Langstaff opened an inquest into his death and gave permission for the release of his body.

The accident happened just after 11am, on Friday, September 12. Another passenger, also a 15-year-old boy, suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Saliq's father, taxi driver Amjad Malik, of Manor House Gardens, Eccleshill, Bradford, said he had dropped off his son at the reception of his school, Hanson Academy, and then returned home to rest before working a late shift.

He picked up a message from the school at 11.20am saying Saliq had not returned to lessons. He was then contacted by police, who took him to see Saliq in hospital. The teenager had been unconscious following the crash and by late afternoon doctors had established they could do no more for him. He died around 5pm.

Saliq's mother, Uzma Sheikh; brothers Aaqib, 18, and Kaif, 10; and sisters Aniqah, 13, and three-year-old Aimen, were also able to see him before he died.

Mr Malik told how he had to identify his son at hospital. "I just didn't know what had hit me. Two and a half hours later I had doctors telling me that his injuries were far too much to bring him round and that he would not recover. That is where I lost my son. He met his brothers and sisters, although they could not talk to him, before he went."

He said Saliq had been a keen sports enthusiast and had represented Bradford Moor Primary School at football. Although quiet, he was well regarded among students at secondary school and had the ability to make people laugh.

Mr Malik said his son had a keen interest in mechanics and had just started a college course.

Assistant Coroner Langstaff told the inquest opening that the schoolboy had been certified dead by hospital accident and emergency consultant Dr Gillian Stewart and identified by his father.

Mr Langstaff said the circumstances of Saliq's sad death were the subject of an ongoing police investigation and he was adjourning the inquest pending those inquiries.

* A 17-year-old youth was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on police bail pending inquiries.