The parents of a teenager found seriously injured at the side of a road appealed for help today to solve the mystery of what happened to him.

Stuart Lister, 18, was found with head injuries outside the Aireburn Garage at Skipton Road, Steeton, about half a mile from his home, in the early hours of Saturday morning. Today he was "critical" on a life support machine at Leeds General Infirmary.

His father Keith Lister, 45, who lives in Steeton, said: "All we know is that he was found at the side of the road with these terrible injuries. We don't even know how he got there. The doctors believe he may have fallen out of a vehicle because his head is so badly injured and he has scratch marks down his back, but we don't know that for certain.

"He had to have an operation on Saturday to release some fluid which was putting pressure on his brain.

"Clearly he didn't get on the roadside on his own in that state and somebody knows something. It really is critical, and I can't state that enough, that we need whoever else was at the scene to come forward."

The former South Craven School pupil, who works at Abbey Art Stone in Keighley, had been out on Saturday with a cousin. The pair had been to a bar in Skipton and then onto a nightclub in Keighley. But how he came to be at the side of the road several hours later is still a mystery.

Stuart's mother Christine, 44, with whom he lives in Steeton, has been at her son's bedside along with his brother Jason, 24, sister Joanne, 21, and his girlfriend Sarah. She said: "Stuart was planning all sorts for the future with Sarah. He's been seeing her for 18 months and they're engaged.

"Sarah's been at his bedside ever since the accident. We just want him better."

Call Keighley Police on (01535) 617059.

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