FAMILY friends of ten-year-old hit-and-run victim Sean Hamilton are hosting an event to ensure his memory lives on.

Sean died on October 3 last year when he was hit by a van as he crossed Holgate Road, York, near the Iron Bridge, as he made his way home from a trip to the cinema.

His death left hundreds of people in the local community devastated and in the wake of the tragedy, friends of the popular Foxwood youngster spent days creating a memorial garden in a park near his home in Spindle Close.

Now Laura Thompson and Michelle Bell are to hold a fundraising auction evening to raise the cash for a memorial stone bench for the park.

Michelle said: “My children used to play with Sean and he was such a delightful cheeky little chap with the most gorgeous smile. He was well-mannered, full of fun and liked by everyone who knew him. After he died, all the children who lived nearby spent two days planting shrubs and flowers in the park and we thought a bench would be a perfect addition to it and it will last a lifetime."

Laura said: “Michelle and I thought a fundraising auction would be a good way of raising the money needed, which is about £1,500. There will be a raffle and a sponsored leg-waxing as well and we just hope to raise as much money as we can for this fitting tribute to Sean.

“Any money left over will be donated to the children’s cancer charity Candlelighters."

The fundraising evening will be held in the Quaker Wood pub, in Acomb Wood Drive on Saturday, January 30.

Among items to be auctioned will be a Manchester United signed football, a York City signed football, Leeds Rhinos match tickets, a signed Castleford Tigers rugby ball and a dartboard and darts.

The event will start at 8pm.