A new youth centre in Stone is to be named after murdered schoolgirl Claire Tiltman.

The building in Cotton Lane will be dedicated to the 16-year-old and used for scouting activities and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Claire, who lived in Woodward Terrace in nearby Horns Cross, was undertaking her bronze DofE award when she was brutally stabbed to death in an alleyway off London Road, Greenhithe, on January 18, 1993.

Her killer, former milkman Colin Ash-Smith, evaded justice until last month when he was convicted of murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.

"I couldn't wait to see everyone's faces when I told them Saturday night. We absolutely love it." - Lisa Gribbin, Claire's best friend

Stone Parish Council decided to name the centre after Claire after consulting her family and friends.

The news was welcomed by her best friend, Lisa Gribbin, who was inspired by Claire to also take part in the DofE scheme.

Both girls, who went to Dartford Grammar School, were volunteering at Dartford fire station when Claire, or Tilt as she was affectionately nicknamed by her classmates, was murdered.

"It is brilliant and just so fitting," said the 37-year-old mum-of-four, who was at a special reunion in Gravesend on Saturday night to mark what would have been Claire's 38th birthday later this week.

"Tilt got me into the Duke of Edinburgh and the council contacted me last week to see how her family and friends would feel about the centre being named after her.

"I couldn't wait to see everyone's faces when I told them Saturday night. We absolutely love it."

A memorial plaque dedicated to Claire and the detective who initially led the hunt for her killer stands at the spot where the teenager died. The nearby road of Claire Causeway in Greenhithe is also named after her.

Parish council chairman John Burrell said: "Claire was murdered in the most tragic way in her teenage years, taking away her ability to have a life full of experiences and achievements.

"The parish council's proposed youth activity centre is specifically designed to provide local children and teenagers with valuable life skills to enable them to prosper in life in a way Claire was sadly unable to."

Construction of the building is due to start in the spring.

Ash-Smith, 46, who used to live in Swanscombe and Greenhithe, has formally applied to appeal against his conviction.