A FESTIVAL of football is being held in memory of a Newport teenager who died after being buried in a huge mound of sand.

And after previous years' matches, this year's event is set to be the biggest yet.

Jon-Paul Young, of Elgar Avenue, Alway, had been playing with friends in June 2000 near a conveyor belt dumping sand at a rate of ten tonnes a minute.

The 14-year-old died when the sand mountain on which he was playing at United Marine Aggregates (UMA) sand and gravel site, at Lilleshall Street, slipped and he suffocated.

His frantic friends had tried to pull him free.

Following the tragedy, the Argus highlighted how youngsters were continuing to play at the site despite the teenager's death.

Since then, Gwent Police have helped organise an annual football match for youngsters in the Alway and Ringland area to promote safety issues surrounding Jon-Paul's death.

PC Grant Taylor said: "Obviously the tournament is in memory of the boy himself, however for me it was a way of raising awareness about the dangers of all the associated risks of young people playing in areas they shouldn't.

"This year we are inviting teams from across the whole of Newport to turn it into a football festival for the day.

"We hope to remind parents and young people about this little boy and the dangers of going to places they should not go to and playing in places they shouldn't go to.

"All the signs from previous events shows it should run for many years."

The event is supported by Jon-Paul's mother Anna who presents the trophy at the end of the day to the winning team.

She said: "I think its a good idea and I am really glad that Grant is doing it."

This year all the entrants will receive a medal which is being funded by the Gwent Police Crime and Disorder Budget and there will be a barbecue and refreshments sponsored by Quality Meats of Alway.

This year's event is due to take place on April 5 at the multi-surface area in Ringland.