George Hinds: Park bench memorial for young gas blast victim

The bench depicts George's smiling face and reads: "Snatched from our lives but not from our hearts"

A memorial park bench has been unveiled in honour of toddler George Hinds, who died in a gas explosion.

The two-year-old was killed in the blast in Heysham, Lancashire last year.

Parents Vicky and Stephen joined family and friends on Saturday as the bright blue bench was unveiled overlooking where George used to play in Happy Mount Park in Morecambe.

Mr Hinds said it was an "emotional" moment and would be "somewhere for us to come and sit and remember George".

George's parents said the two-year-old was "so precious to us"

John McGuinness, the former motorcycle racer known as the "Morecambe Missile", did the honours of unveiling the bench alongside George's older brother.

He said it would "mark the spot so we'll never forget George."

The bench depicts the toddler's smiling face alongside two hearts and reads: "Snatched from our lives but not from our hearts".

Mr Hinds said it was "emotional" to see the bench in his son's favourite park, the day after he would have turned four years old.

Mr Hinds said he "can't thank the community enough" for their support

"The last 13 months has been the worst ever... but to me, it's like he's still here with me, it's heartbreaking," he added.

"I can't thank the community enough, everyone's been amazing... and look at the turnout today."

Janice Studholme, George's grandmother, said it had been "a bit difficult" coming back to the park without her grandson as it was "still very raw for all of us".

"It's somewhere to remember the happy times we had with him... and [the bench] is a proper child's blue... it's beautiful," she said.

Steve Trainer, who organised the fundraising to pay for the memorial, said it was "such a tragedy, I just had to do something for him".

He said the community raised enough for the memorial in "just two days, which is absolutely superb".

A convoy of trucks will be driven along Morecambe Promenade to honour George on Sunday, following a similar event last year.

A woman has been charged with manslaughter over the blast and a court case is scheduled for October.

Four other people were hurt in the explosion, which destroyed two homes and seriously damaged a third.

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