Gran of murdered teen Liam Taylor awarded for anti-knife crime work

Julie Taylor said it was a "bittersweet" feeling to accept the award on the fourth anniversary of Liam's death

The grandmother of a murdered teenager has been awarded for her work campaigning against knife crime.

Liam Taylor, 19, died after being stabbed outside the Rose and Crown pub in Writtle, Essex, on 31 January 2020.

His grandmother, Julie, has since helped to distribute life-saving bleed kits across the county and raised awareness about blade-related violence.

She received a Points of Light award by the prime minister on Wednesday for her work with The Liam Taylor Legacy.

Handed out by Rishi Sunak on a daily basis, the award recognised volunteers who made a difference in their community.

Liam Taylor died after being stabbed in the village near Chelmsford

Mrs Taylor said it was a "bittersweet" feeling to accept it on the fourth anniversary of Liam's death, but that it was "perfect".

"I'm so grateful but I'm so sad that we've been offered it because we should never have had it in the first place," she told BBC Essex.

"While I'm alive I will do what I'm doing; I won't ever stop - in Liam's memory."

Three men were jailed for life at Chelmsford Crown Court after the teenager was stabbed to death.

Mrs Taylor said January was a "horrendous" month for the family but the award was a nice moment amid the sadness.

"He just made you happy all the time and that's what you miss," she added.