THE memory of a teenager who died in a scooter crash ten years ago will live on after a tribute to him was unveiled.

James Staines, 16, was thrown from his scooter in Royal Artillery Way, Southend, in 2006.

His grieving father, Colin Staines, 58, of The Drakes, Shoebury, and his loyal friends raised more than £1,200 to install a memorial bench on the grass verge where he died.

They visit the scene every August to mark the anniversary of the tragic crash.

Mr Staines said: “Much of the money was raised by his friends through crowdfunding.

“It is a nice thing for them to do and it would have been what James wanted.

“We go to the scene every year on the anniversary of his death to lay flowers.

“This is a nice way to remember him on the tenth anniversary.”

Mr Staines thanked those who had turned the idea of a lasting memorial to football-mad James into a reality.

He said: “One person did tattoos for people and donated the money and another held a cake sale. I’m very grateful to them. I used to organise a fundraising football match but it all got too much really. We still have a memorial match though.

“We’re still going through it a bit. It never goes away.”

Following the death of his son, Mr Staines devoted his time to fundraising for road safety charity the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Over the past decade, Mr Staines has raised £4,000.

Dean Stevens was best friends with James.

The 26-year-old, of Cokefield Avenue, Southend said: “It’s taken a bit of time to raise the money but all his friends pitched in and helped out.

“James always wore a yellow and black hat so a friend who is a tattooist has been doing memorial tattoos of the hat for people and donating the money.

“We also had a football memorial match at Roots Hall.

“We go down there and sit by the road each year on his birthday and on the anniversary of his death.

“His friends are grown up now but they still go and pay there respects.

“Its nice we were able to do this on the tenth anniversary.”

The former Cecil Jones pupil was wearing a helmet without a visor, similar to those worn by off-road bikers.

They are legal but don’t provide as much protection as traditional motorcycle helmets.

James is believed to have lost control of his scooter after hitting a kerb in the early morning crash on Wednesday, August 16, 2006.