A community has rallied together to pay a Covid fine imposed by police for a balloon release in memory of a teenager who took his own life.
Around 200 people are estimated to have attended the memorial events for tragic Jamie McKitten, from Chester-le-Street, who died in March.
The 17-year-old’s death rocked the community and on April 11 around 1,000 green balloons and smoke grenades on the football field in Great Lumley.
But Durham Constabulary said the event breached Covid-19 regulation and imposed a £400 fine on the organisers.
A fundraising campaign was launched on social media and the community pulled together to pay the fine.
A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said: “Our approach throughout the pandemic has been to help the public follow the restrictions by engaging, explaining, and encouraging, and only turning to enforcement as a last resort.
“Encouraging the public to follow the regulations is the most effective way for policing to support prevention of the spread of the virus.
“Officers met with the organiser in advance to explain that unfortunately the plans would be in breach of Covid regulations and we were assured the event would be cancelled.
“Sadly, we were called to reports of approximately 200 people of all ages, several of whom had clearly consumed alcohol, gathered together with no masks and no social distancing in place.”
Aged just four, Jamie witnessed his mum's brutal murder at the hands of his dad.
In 2008, ChronicleLive reported how 31-year-old Kelly was battered to death by her ex Stuart Cummings as her young sons - including Jamie - hid under their quilts
"Possessive" Cummings was jailed for life, and ordered to serve at least 24 years for his appalling crime.
