Family 'overwhelmed' by Knife Angel response

Simon and Tanya Brown, whose son Connor was fatally stabbed in Sunderland, welcomed the Knife Angel at the end of May

A mum whose son was killed after being stabbed said the response to a sculpture highlighting knife crime has been "overwhelming".

The Knife Angel, which is made from 100,000 seized blades and knives, will leave Sunderland on Friday after a month-long stay.

Tanya Brown, who helped bring the sculpture to the city in memory of her 18-year-old son Connor, said: "It's going to be quite an emotional send-off."

The departure will be marked by a ceremony at City Hall, followed by a candlelight vigil outside the artwork in Keel Square from about 18:15 BST.

Connor was stabbed five times after trying to defuse an argument on a night out in Sunderland in 2019. Two men were jailed for his killing.

His parents set up the Connor Brown Trust to educate people about knife crime.

'Emotional journey'

Mrs Brown said they had been at the Knife Angel six days a week over the past month, talking to the community and running educational workshops at City Hall.

"We feel honoured and so overwhelmed by the response we've had," she said.

"It's been an emotional journey, it's been extremely tiring, but the impact it's had has made it so worthwhile."

Connor Brown was killed in 2019 after being stabbed five times

It is the first time the statue has been displayed in Sunderland, after previously touring Middlesbrough, Gateshead and Redcar.

Mrs Brown said engaging with the public had been emotional and conversations happening around the Angel "highlighted so much".

"We can't change what happened to Connor, but we do want to change the mindset of future young people," she said.

"It's been quite an emotional rollercoaster and I think the public have felt that as well."

The Knife Angel's next stop will be in Southend-on-Sea.