The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, admitted at Preston Crown Court to murdering Sophie Lancaster and causing grievous bodily harm to her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, 21.

Miss Lancaster and Mr Maltby were beaten up in a vicious assault in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, Lancashire, in the early hours of August 11 last year.

She died in hospital nearly two weeks later from serious head injuries, having never regained consciousness. Mr Maltby, an art student, also fell into a coma with bleeding on the brain but he recovered and has since left hospital.

The defendant, aged 15, at the time of the attack, entered formal guilty pleas.

Four other youths - two aged 17, one 16-year-old and a 15-year-old - all deny murder. None can be named for legal reasons.

The four have also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Maltby.

Their trial is scheduled to begin at Preston Crown Court.