The mother of tragic Midlands schoolgirl Rosie Ross has thanked everyone who made this year’s sponsored walk and festival in memory of her daughter the biggest yet.

More than 2,000 people flocked to Aldridge Airport for the seventh annual Rosie’s Walk and Festival yesterday to raise cash for the charity Rosie’s Helping Hands.

The charity, which funds young people’s projects, was set up by Rosie’s parents Karen and Sean Ross after she was fatally stabbed in May 2001 while relaxing with a friend in Birmingham’s Centenary Square.

Karen, aged 47, said: “Obviously it is an emotional time but we coped as we had plenty of people around us.

“It is always touching to meet some of the people we have helped through the charity, which has raised around £250,000 since it started seven years ago.

“Around 750 people took part in the three-mile walk along the canal and a lot of people also came along to join the one-mile version. There were around 2,000 people there which would make it our most popular yet, although we won’t have a figure for the amount raised until next week.”

Visitors to the festival could try their hand at traditional games with arts and crafts sessions for youngsters who made creepy crawlies, birds and butterflies.

Mrs Ross said a big thankyou to everyone who took part.

She said: “I would like to thank all our volunteers and everyone that came along to support us.

“Without them none of this could happen.”

Anyone who would like more information about the charity should visit www.rosieshelpinghands.org