A TEENAGER killed in a collision while riding his bike has left a ‘Ted-shaped hole’ in the lives of his heartbroken family.

Edward (Ted) Southward died at the scene of a crash on the A595 at Prospect Hill, Waberthwaite, on April 8.

The 14-year-old was described as ‘one in a million’ by his family who paid tribute to their much-loved son during his inquest at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court yesterday.

Mum Susan Southward said the ‘family will miss him forever’ in a tearful statement read out to the court.

She said: “From the moment I stroked my finger across his tiny forehead to the very last breath I will ever take, I will totally love him. For those amongst us who have been given the gift of being a mother, I don’t think I can give this statement justice.

“The Ted-shaped hole in our family is massive. We’ll miss him forever. He was so well liked and held in such high regard.”

Ted always had a love for the outdoors and had his first trip in a tractor at just four days old, his mum said.

By eight years old, he was driving tractors himself and discovered a love for bikes and anything with wheels, the court heard.

“He knew early on that his future would be in mechanics,” Mrs Southward said.

“By 11, he was interested in banger cars and had a passion for racing.

“Ted loved his bike – in fact anything with wheels.

“He was always with his friend Jack building stuff. He could build brilliant vehicles entirely from scratch. His goal was to work up to a mechanic.”

A student at Millom Comprehensive School, Ted found a firm group of friends who he would ‘do anything for’.

Mrs Southward said: “Ted was such a fun person to be around. He was so thoughtful and caring. He was fiercely protective of his friends and do anything for them.

“He was extremely modest and didn’t believe in himself and couldn’t take a compliment. He couldn’t see his brilliance. Ted has two younger sisters and a younger brother. He doted on his brother – he always wanted a brother. They slept together every night.”

Mrs Southward said the family refused to be broken by the loss of their much-loved brother and son who will they love and remember for the rest of their lives.

She said: “I will not be broken by this; I will not let my children have a second-rate childhood, we will laugh and in that way Ted will live on.”

Ted’s death was recorded as the result of a road traffic collision by coroner Margaret Taylor.