A CHARITY gig in memory of crash victim Ashley Connell takes place this weekend - with his favourite band headlining.

And organisers are urging the hundreds of people who attend the Operation Blowout festival in Blackburn on Sunday to back the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign by signing our petition.

Blackburn band The Moneyshot will headline the outdoor event at the Cellar Bar in King Street.

Lead singer Paul Clarkson is Ashley's cousin and he said he will be dedicating his band's performance to someone who was his friend as well as his relative.

Front seat passenger Ashley, 23, of Knowsley Road, Wilpshire, died when the Honda Civic Type R he was travelling in crashed into walls and a parked car in Mellor Lane, Mellor, on April 21.

The crash also left four of Ashley's friends in hospital. Police believe the crash may have been casued by speed and are waiting to speak to the survivors.

But Ashley's death has prompted hundreds of messages on the Lancashire Telegraph website.

His funeral was due to take place at St Peter's Church, Salesbury, today.

Our campaign is calling for education and government action to reduce the death toll among under 25s on our roads.

Paul said: "Ash took the time out to attend our last gig and show his support in his own emphatic style, he was a great friend to me and no doubt he would have been down on Sunday trying to get on stage with us again."

Rick Grogan, who is also in the band added: "I grew up with Ashley, he was a good mate and he always had a smile on his face! You could hear his laugh from a mile away.

"He's given me and many others some great memories which we will never forget. He was at the last gig up on stage with his arm round me loving it. He is gone but never ever forgotten."

The event, running all day on Sunday, features 10 local bands.

Organiser Matt Bury, 27, said it will be the perfect opportunity to highlight the dangers of the road for young drivers.

He said: "There are going to be hundreds of young people at the festival and we want to use this opportunity to promote the Lancashire Telegraph's campaign.

"We want everyone who comes down to sign the petition in memory of Ash to prevent other people dying on the roads."

Ashley's mother, Christine Connell, has already backed our petition online. She said: "There will never be another Ashley but there will be a lot more wasted lives if young people don't think when they are driving.

"I want to say to all young people: please don't let your families go through what our family and families like ourselves go through."