Artwork unveiled in alley where girl was murdered

The artwork was created by Steve Pardue, who worked with students at Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, where Holly Newton attended

A piece of art has been unveiled in the alleyway where a teenage girl was fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend.

Holly Newton, 15, was stalked by Logan MacPhail for almost an hour before he launched his attack on her in Hexham, Northumberland, in January 2023.

MacPhail, who was 16 at the time, was detained for at least 17 years after being found guilty of murdering Holly and intentionally wounding another teenager who tried to intervene.

Holly's mum Micala Trussler, who was at the unveiling, said it was "really hard" for her to be in the alley but she wanted her daughter's life to be "remembered as something happy and not just the way that she died".

"It's a very bittersweet place for me but I'm still glad that this has been put up," she said.

Holly Newton was killed by her ex-boyfriend in the alleyway in January 2023

Pupils from Queen Elizabeth High School, where Holly attended, worked with local artist Steve Pardue to create the colourful tribute.

In the centre is a dancer, representing Holly's favourite hobby.

"All of the drawings were happy drawings, full of hope, full of love," Mr Pardue said.

"Hope was the single most dramatic and important message that came through the whole project."

Steve Pardue praised the students for their work on the art project

Holly's step-father Lee Trussler said: "It just fills me with lots of emotion with the way the kids have drew the pictures - they're brilliant.

"The way the artist has just come up with the dancer in the middle - it's just like he knew Holly."