HORDES of teenage scramblers have heeded a grief-stricken mum's crash helmet plea.

Last week The Journal related the tragic tale of how 15 year-old Atherton teenager Eamonn Duffy died from serious head injuries when the field-bike he was on crashed.

Fred Longworth schoolboy Eamonn was not wearing a helmet when the off-road bike he and a friend were riding was in collision with a car in Bolton Old Road, Atherton.

His grieving mum, Elaine, of Somerset Road, Atherton, pleaded with bike-mad youngsters to learn from her family's tragic loss and never ride without a helmet.

The accident resulted in concerned Leigh two wheeler dealers ESB Motorcycles offering free used crash hats to field-bike riders who would otherwise ride helmetless.

ESB manager Harry Smallshaw was overwhelmed by the response to The Journal story and quickly ran out of hand-out helmets.

He said:"The phone has never stopped ringing and we've had a steady flow of people coming into the shop to collect helmets.

"One lad was a little upset because we didn't have the latest moto-cross designs to give away but most were glad to take us up on the offer.

"There must be loads of people who have helmets stored away which will never be used. Rather than gather dust these could be donated to try to prevent a repeat of this terrible tragedy."

Eamonn's funeral took place at St Richard's, Atherton, last Friday.

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