An emotional pink balloon vigil was held tonight in honour of murdered primary school girl Alesha MacPhail to celebrate what would have been her eighth birthday.
Mum Georgina Lochrane organised the event in West End Park, Airdrie, Alesha's home town.
Scores of people gathered close to the pink memorial bench which sits in the park permanently in memory of little Alesha.
The balloons were released all together into the sky as a celebration of Alesha's life.
The grieving mum had asked members of the public to bring a pink balloon and candle and join her in memory of 'our very own star in the sky'.
The 24-year-old told how she will sing Happy Birthday at her daughter’s grave each year to mark another heartbreaking milestone.
Alesha's birthday falls this week.
She said: "On her birthday we will do as we did last year and go up to Alesha’s grave and just spend as long as we can up there with her.
“Alesha should really should be here to celebrate her birthday, not having a vigil in her memory. But as long as I live on this earth Alesha will never be forgotten and I doubt her sister will let it happen after I’m gone.
“This week all I have done is wish her wee beautiful face would come bouncing into the living room, most probably giving me the last minute changes to her birthday presents or asking is she’s getting a birthday cake.
“I know it’s only been a year but it honestly feels like forever since I last saw her face, heard her voice and cuddled her.
“I sit and think about how much she would have changed over the year and how grown up she would be now.”
Alesha was abducted from her bed at her grandparents' home on the Isle of Bute last summer.
She was raped and murdered by monster Aaron Campbell who was just 16 at the time. Her body was found in woodland near her grandparent's home.
Evil Campbell confessed to the crime and was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison, which was later slashed to 24 years after he appealed the sentencing.
