Scores of young people in Barton have etched their name and messages into a 'wall of love' created in memory of those on the estate who have died.

The memorial features a giant smiley face inspired by the 'remember me with a smile' transcription on the gravestone of young motorbike crash victim Charlie Marting.

Following Charlie's death in May 2004, friends and relatives signed and wrote personal messages into wet render on a wall by the shops in Barton's Underhill Circus.

As part of a redevelopment of the area young people said they wanted to give the wall a fresher, more permanent look and make it a lasting tribute not just to Charlie, but all young people on the estate who have lost their lives.

Over a year, artist Kate Allen held workshops with 14 to 19-year-olds to see what they would like to do with the wall - to keep it as it was or give it a more permanent feel.

The final striking design is light blue, Charlie's favourite colour, and features a metallic reflective smiley face in the top right hand corner.

Friends of Charlie, Karen Hall, 20, brother Jamie Hall, 17, and Fiona Rennie, 19, three of the leading figures in the creation of the wall, said they were pleased with the final result Karen said: "Everyone came up with the idea for the memorial. We wanted to do something to remember Charlie forever and for other people to remember friends who they have lost.

"Charlie was always happy. He was a real joker, but everyone loved him. The smiley face is to remember everyone who has died."

Fiona added: "Everyone will be able to think of the friends they have lost when they see the wall.

"It does mean a lot to young people on the estate."

Miss Allen said young people had been keen to create the tribute and the design was originally put forward as part of the Dead Spaces project, which aimed to brighten up areas of the city that had fallen into disrepair.

She added: "I think it looks really good and I think it is great that the community has had such an input. It's a striking image and something that will hopefully fit in with the redevelopment of the whole area which is due to start in the spring."