Penguin artwork tribute after pupil's crash death

A sculpture trail will feature a tribute to a six-year-old boy who died in a car crash.

Leo Painter died in the crash on the A44 Spetchley Road, Worcester, on 22 February.

The boy's school have dedicated a penguin chick artwork which will feature in the great Waddle of Worcester trail in his honour.

"Leo was our sunshine. He brought joy and light into the hearts of everyone he met with a mischievous sparkle in his eye," Sally Yafai, from Abigail’s Place School, said.

"Understandably we’ve all felt a great deal of sadness following the crash, but it felt only right that our sculpture captured the positivity that Leo emanated."

Forty individual penguins and 40 chicks will placed in the city from 22 July before most are auctioned to raise money for St Richard's Hospice.

Previous art trails involving elephants and giraffes have raised more than £700,000 for the charity.

But the sculpture for Leo, named "Little Leo", will be returned to his old primary school as a permanent memorial.

In the crash in February, two women aged 26 and 39 were also killed and Leo's mother, Gemma Painter, said her son's death had left her "broken".

Sara Matthews, from the hospice, said: “Leo’s tragic death, alongside the driver and travel assistant, brought sadness to many across the county but particularly to those who knew and loved them most.

“Painting a sculpture in memory of their friend, Leo, and remembering all the love and laughter he brought with him is an important part of the school’s grief journey.

"At the end of the trail their penguin will return to them as its forever home and a lasting tribute to a lovely little boy."

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]