Mark Ramshaw, 17, was playing football with friends when he went to retrieve a ball from the roof of the former Walker Steel plant, in Ellison Street, Jarrow.

The teenager was fatally injured when he fell 40ft through a skylight onto the factory floor below.

With the 20th anniversary of his death approaching, his mother Jean McCann, asked current factory owners, Valenbeck Packing & Freight Services Ltd, if she could place a memorial seat at the site, just yards from where Mark died.

Tears were shed at the emotional ceremony as Mrs McCann, 58, of Buxton Close, Hill Park Estate, Jarrow, officially unveiled the seat.

Mrs McCann, who lived in Ellison Street, right opposite the factory, at the time of the tragedy, said: "Mark was a bright lad, who was doing well at school, and would have gone on to great things.

"It hurts to remember that he never got the chance to grow up, get married, have a family or whatever.

"I go to the cemetery and put flowers on his grave, but I wanted to do something special for his 20th anniversary."

Mrs McCann, who also has two grown-up sons and a daughter, was joined by family and friends as she unveiled the specially inscribed 'Mark's Memorial Seat.'

Also at the ceremony were Mark's father, Bill Ramshaw, and his uncle, Keith Brittan, who said: "Mark was a great lad. He had an apprenticeship, and would have gone far in life.

"It's awful he died in such tragic circumstances, but this memorial will help keep his spirit alive."

Kevin Moeliker, finance director for Valenbeck, said: "We were more than pleased to agree to place the memorial seat on site.

"It will definitely be used by our workers during their breaks."