A MOTHER, whose son was murdered on her estate last year, is encouraging local youngsters to create a garden in his memory.

Theresa Cave, from the Lakes Estate, in Redcar, east Cleveland, lost her son Chris, 17, in June last year after he was stabbed only yards from her home.

Now she has gathered together a group of children, aged between ten and 16, from the Burnmoor Close, Blayberry Close and Micklow Close area of the estate, to help transform a rented overgrown allotment into a memorial garden for her son.

She hopes the children will work over the six-week summer holidays to create an oriental section and vegetable and herb patch in the 30ft long allotment.

"It's not the kids' fault they're on street corners," she said. "It's the community's fault and the Government's. I know they are good kids at heart. I've had meetings with them and they're really enthusiastic.

"They're going to show people that they're not thugs in the making as people would believe."

Mrs Cave hopes the youngsters will work for up to four hours a day on the plot and says they will be rewarded for their efforts.

"We're going to do sponsored walks, the kids will be sponsored to stay indoors and not go out on to the streets and sponsored to get the allotment into shape by the end of the holidays," she said.

"Then we can think about taking them on a trip to Alton Towers.

"This is what Chris would have wanted. He was always wanting to get children off the streets.

"It will teach the kids respect and show them that they can achieve results."