A memorial bench has been unveiled in tribute to a 10-year-old girl who was murdered during a family party at a house in Leicestershire.

Rosie May Storrie was killed in Bottesford, Leics, by Paul Smith, 20, from Sedgebrook, Lincolnshire in 2003. The bench is located next to a ford in the village near to her home where the youngster played with her friends.

Her parents, Mary and Graham, said the tribute would help them to remember the good times with their daughter. The youngster died in hospital two days after Smith held her face down into a pillow in an upstairs room at a party, held at his uncle's house in Normanton, Leicestershire.

Smith was jailed for life in October 2004 after being found guilty of her murder. The bench was paid for from money raised at a charity ball. It features ten pink red roses and her signature. Plans for the tribute had been turned down three times by the parish council.

Her mother Mary said: "This will help us to remember the happy times that Rosie May had down here by the ford with her friends." Dad Graham added: "It takes away the negative way in which Rosie May died so we remember the happy times we had together."

The couple are now working on other projects in memory of Rosie May, including setting up orphanages in areas of Sri Lanka affected by the Asian tsunami.

Source: BBC News

An octagonal cast iron bench on Swansea's promenade is being built as a permanent memorial for murdered sixth former Ben Bellamy.

Ben, 17, from Sketty Park, Swansea died after he was attacked walking home from a night out in Mumbles along the seafront in September 2005. Two teenagers are serving life for the killing, a third was given a five year term for manslaughter.

The large octagonal bench will now be erected opposite the Brynmill arch.

The bench will be about seven metres wide at the base and at the centre will be a granite table with an inscription commemorating Ben.

The friends and family of Ben have been working with Swansea Council to ensure his memory lives on.

After fundraising the group approached the council's parks section which manages the promenade with their wishes. Parks assistant area manager John Hopkins said: "The group were overwhelmed with support from the general public of Swansea when they began fundraising.

"They have been through designs and styles with us and have selected to build an octagonal bench which will allow people to sit facing inwards or outwards."

The bench is now on order and will take around 12 weeks to make.

Source: BBC News