THE grieving mother of a school boy stabbed to death in a street fight has pleaded for people who know what happened to come forward.

Heartbroken Lee Hitchcock, 46, fought back tears as she described her 16-year-old son Ben as a bright and gifted boy who had big dreams for the future.

He was stabbed in the back during a pitched battle involving about 40 youths armed with knives, bottles, bricks and stones, in Southend Road, Beckenham, on Saturday, June 23.

Mrs Hitchcock, from Penge, said: "I know that there are people out there who know the boy who did it. It was a murder in cold blood. Ben had no weapon. He gave Ben no chance to defend himself.

"Ben died before I could get to him and nothing can bring him back to me."

She added: "The young man who did this, his life is finished anyway. He's got to live with this for the rest of his life."

Police have offered a £10,000 reward and protection to anyone who helps them bring Ben's killer to justice.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8721 4961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Full story in this week's Bromley Extra.