THE mother of one of the teenagers killed in the St James's School Alpine coach crash has had her son's belongings returned. As reported in yesterday's BEN, Carole Ridding's handbag was stolen on Tuesday containing precious memories of her son Keith.

Mrs Ridding was on her home to Kearsley from Bolton town centre after buying flowers for her son's grave and it wasn't until she searched for her keys she realised she had left the bag on the bus.

Mrs Ridding kept precious items of Keith in her purse so she would always have them with her.

She had photos of Keith, a picture of him with best friend Robert Boardman, who was also killed, and a gold signet ring. Keith, 14, was tragically killed in 1997 when the coach he was travelling in during a school trip to France plunged more than 60 feet down a ravine. Best friend Robert Boardman, also 14, and 16-year-old Nicola Moore were also killed in the accident.

Mrs Ridding's bag was found almost immediately but the purse, which contained the pictures and £180, had gone.

Luckily an off-duty policeman found the purse outside a supermarket in Salford on Tuesday night and Mrs Ridding was traced through her bank. The cash had gone but the pictures and Keith's signet ring were still there.

"I'm delighted his things have been found," said Mrs Ridding today. "I didn't expect to get the money back but at least I have my pictures of Keith again. "They mean so much to me and I am so grateful to the policeman for finding me. I've already spoken to him on the phone and I intend to send him a card."

Mrs Ridding had a picture of Keith, taken just before the ill-fated trip, as well as a photo of Robert Boardman, given to her by his parents shortly after the tragedy. She also had a still picture from a home video taken just three days before the trip to France.

"I don't have many pictures of him just before he died so these are really precious to me," she said. "I'll still keep some with me in my bag so I have them all the time, but most will stay safely at home now."

The policeman, who did not want to be named, said: "At first I just thought someone had lost their purse but once Mrs Ridding was contacted we realised it contained some things very precious to her. I was glad I could return it."

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