THE parents of a mountain biker have laid a memorial stone at the secluded spot where he crashed 12 months ago and said: "We'll never come to terms with his death".

Russell Hewitt died aged 31 on August 9 last year, after being thrown from his bike into a dry stone wall at the bottom of a hill close to Sunnyhurst Woods and Darwen Golf Club.

He was on a cycling trip with a friend to Darwen Tower.

At the inquest, coroner Michael Singleton said Russell suffered several broken ribs and that he had punctured his lungs. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

One year on, his parents, Alice, 64, and John, 66, of Cardigan Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, wanted to mark the spot of the tragedy to make sure Russell's death would never be forgotten.

And Russell's workmates at All in One builders, Clayton-le-Moors, collected £385 for Alice and John to pay for the four foot high piece of Yorkshire stone with the inscription:

"Russell Hewitt, died 9th August 2000 aged 31 years old. A beloved son and brother to Mark and Shirley. His life a beautiful memory to all. His absence a silent grief. A friend to many."

Last Wednesday a wooden cross was uprooted, and the stone laid in its place during a ceremony attended by Russell's parents and one of his close friends.

"Each and every one of us said a prayer," said Alice, "before the stone we had put a cross there at Christmas time, but we wanted a lasting memorial. "My phone never used to stop ringing when he was living here with us, but it never rings these days. They were always his friends ringing and I used to get sick to death of it but now I'd rather have my son back.

"We miss him so much. I haven't come to terms with it -- I never will. I think about him at the time.

"It's upsetting to go to the spot, but it's a beautiful area. Some people have said to me that he died in a part of heaven."

Alice visits the spot where he died a couple of times a week.

The family also had a party last Saturday at the James Street Sport and Social Club, Oswaldtwistle, with 300 of Russell's friends as a final goodbye. There was a buffet and disco. It was meant to be for people to remember Russell and enjoy themselves.

THE parents of a mountain biker have laid a memorial stone at the secluded spot where he crashed 12 months ago and said: "We'll never come to terms with his death".

Russell Hewitt died aged 31 on August 9 last year after being thrown from his bike into a dry stone wall at the bottom of a hill close to Sunnyhurst Woods and Darwen Golf Club.

He was on a cycling trip with a friend to Darwen Tower.

At the inquest, coroner Michael Singleton said Russell suffered several broken ribs and that he had punctured his lungs. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

One year on, his parents, Alice, 64, and John, 66, of Cardigan Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, wanted to mark the spot of the tragedy to make sure Russell's death would never be forgotten.

And Russell's workmates at All in One builders, Clayton-le-Moors, collected £385 for Alice and John to pay for the four foot high piece of Yorkshire stone with the inscription:

"Russell Hewitt, died 9th August 2000 aged 31 years old. A beloved son and brother to Mark and Shirley. His life a beautiful memory to all. His absence a silent grief. A friend to many."

Last Wednesday a wooden cross was uprooted, and the stone laid in its place during a ceremony attended by Russell's parents and one of his close friends.

"Each and every one of us said a prayer," said Alice, "before the stone we had put a cross there at Christmas time, but we wanted a lasting memorial.

"My phone never used to stop ringing when he was living here with us, but it never rings these days. They were always his friends ringing and I used to get sick to death of it but now I'd rather have my son back.

"We miss him so much. I haven't come to terms with it -- I never will. I think about him at the time.

"It's upsetting to go to the spot, but it's a beautiful area.

"Some people have said to me that he died in a part of heaven."

Alice visits the spot where he died a couple of times a week.

The family also had a party last Saturday at the James Street Sport and Social Club, Oswaldtwistle, with 300 of Russell's friends as a final goodbye.

There was a buffet and disco. It was meant to be for people to remember Russell and enjoy themselves.