VIDEO: Mum's tribute to murdered Sophie (From Lancashire Telegraph)

VIDEO: Mum's tribute to murdered Sophie

3:11pm Thursday 27th March 2008 in

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"SOPHIE was an individual. She was an intelligent young girl and always marched to her own beat."

Those are the memories of Sophie's mother Sylvia Lancaster.

Sylvia said would miss her daughter's presence and her laugh.

"She had quite a sense of humour," Sylvia added.

"Her smile. She was like a porcelain doll. And she was very kind."

Sophie met Robert at Haslingden High when she was 18.

The couple quickly became inseparable and moved in together in King Street, Bacup.

Sylvia said: "They had their rows because they were two individuals but she loved him and what more can anybody ask?

"Talking to Rob since the attack, they would probably have got married.

"It would have been lovely to have seen that happen."

Sophie's individuality made her a target that night in Stubbylee Park, Bacup.

Sylvia described Sophie's death as "a tragedy for a society which in the past has "prided itself on its tolerance" and said it had ruined the lives of those responsible as well as the lives of their families.

She has set up campaign group SOPHIE (Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere) to spread the message of co-operation throughout both adults and young people.

The Myspace-based group has over 1,800 friends globally including supporters in far-flung places such as China and America.

Through the group her mum has vowed to campaign for peace - particularly an end to attacks on alternative groups such as goths, moshers and emos.

Sylvia said: "I am convinced Sophie was killed simply because of the way she looked; because she did not necessarily conform to the ideals of those who took her life.

"If we are to make any sense of Sophie's death perhaps we should see it as an opportunity to examine how all of us, particularly younger people, can become blinkered.

"It is about being individual and young people from the goth culture or alternative cultures are widely known by young people from outside of it, as moshers'.

"As part of the culture, at gigs they have mosh pits - that's where the term comes from.

"I believe that today more than ever, we need to show respect, compassion and tolerance for those whose appearance and culture differs from our own."