THE mother of murdered Sophie Lancaster has opened her heart about the loss of the promising student as part of a groundbreaking DVD to combat hate crime.

In the wake of 20-year-old former Haslingden High pupil Sophie’s death, Prospect Homes say it will be taking victimisation, on the basis of lifestyle choices, more seriously.

The group, which runs Twin Valley Homes in Blackburn-with-Darwen and Housing Pendle, has produced a special DVD to raise awareness on the issue, which has been endorsed by Sophie’s mother Sylvia Lancaster.

She has led a crusade encouraging greater awareness of people being singled out for abuse due to adopting ‘alternative’ lifestyles, after Sophie and her boyfriend Rob Maltby were targeted by thugs in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, for dressing ‘like Goths’.

And for the short film she staged a face-to-face interview with the organisation, detailing how Sophie’s death had affected her over the past two years, and the importance of preventing future needless deaths.

Housing bosses are already familiar with troublemakers who pick on neighbours because of their age, race, disability, religion or sexual orientation.

But the new DVD, unlike the present law of the land, recognises sub-culture attacks as a significant hate crime battle.

Mrs Lancaster said: “Sophie’s murder highlighted the fact that crimes against alternative sub-cultures weren’t treated as a hate crime. That’s why I’m delighted to back this campaign.

“Any awareness on this issue can only be a good thing and I’m delighted that Twin Valley Homes and Housing Pendle are adopting a policy to recognise attacks against people from alternative subcultures as a hate crime.

“Nobody deserves to be the victim of a hate crime and I hope they become pioneers for taking this approach.”

The DVD will also feature on the net under the SOPHIE (Stamping Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere) banner.

Phil Richards, Prospect’s group chief executive, said: “As a company, we wish to raise the awareness of hate crimes so we can work together to try to remove them from society.

“We are indebted to Mrs Lancaster for assisting us to ensure what happened to her daughter never happens to anyone else.”

Help was obtained from the Racial Equality Council to produce the DVD and it will be released in November.