BALLOONS were released to celebrate the legacy of a brave and inspirational youngster whose memory lives on at his primary school.

Kyle Buckley died two years ago at the age of 12. He had been fighting the rare muscle tissue cancer Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma since he was just eight years old.

In his memory, his family have helped to create a beautiful memory garden in the St Bede Academy, Morris Green, l and funded three new benches, which were installed this week.

Kyle’s mother, Carol, has joined the school’s Parents Teachers Association to help youngsters in the school in her son’s memory.

Yesterday, the benches were officially unveiled, two days before the anniversary of Kyle’s passing.

Headteacher Sarah Rostron said: “Carol joined the PTA in Kyle’s memory.

“The memory garden was created for children at the school, it is a lovely place and a peaceful place for children to go.

“The benches were installed on Tuesday near to the garden and the pupils love them,. they have been using them already. The green benches are beautiful.”

Mrs Rostron said that the all the children knew Kyle and his huge personality and ability to make people smile even when he was undergoing gruelling treatment.

He, along with other pupils and teachers, who had died, is remembered during assembly with the lighting of a special candle.

“We have two gardens, one which is in memory of another pupils. The families come in to look after them, put balloons up on their birthday,” said Mrs Rostron.

The balloon release took place at 3.30pm as school finished for the day.

Kyle’s secondary school has also created a memorial garden in his name. Kyle’s form group raised the money to buy a bench for the garden, his grandad helped to plant an apple tree and the class and Kyle’s family planted seeds. Kyle was first diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in 2014 and received intensive treatment. He fought hard, but relapsed in May 2015 before was given the all-clear in December 2015. But in March, 2017 a scan showed that the cancer had returned. Bolton comic Peter Kay donated £75,000 to the Make Kyle Smile Fund.