The memory of Howard Hillsdon one of the victims of the Eastern Bypass crash will always live on at his former school after a tree was planted there.

Named 'Howard's Thinking Tree', his parents Julie and Graham and sister Anna planted it in the playground at William Fletcher Primary School, in Yarnton, where as a child they said he "played, joked, worked and laughed".

Scores of pupils and teachers as well as friends and relatives watched as the silver birch was planted alongside a bench at the ceremony.

As it was planted, Mrs Hillsdon said: "We dedicate this tree in Howard's name for all those who sit in its shade and bring their thoughts, ideas, joys and troubles.

"Rest here in thought."

Father Andrew Parkinson then blessed the tree before pupils, led by teacher Andrew Lister, sang a song entitled Sing.

The silver birch tree was donated by Oak Tree Nurseries of Witney. Mrs Hillsdon said the company remembered Howard going there each year as a young boy to choose the family Christmas tree.

Howard, who was 21 when he died in the Eastern Bypass crash last May, was a pupil at the Yarnton school from September 1989 until July 1995.

His mother said: "When he was a pupil here we remember him being vibrant, fun, studious and hardworking.

"At this school he made lifelong friends, as was evident from his social life and at his funeral.

"Howard thrived in the nurturing environment of the school. It made him who he was a kind, fun, caring, responsible person."

The family live 100 yards from the school and say it has always been part of the community. "It gives us great comfort that the school want to remember Howard in such a permanent way," said Mr Hillsdon.

"The Thinking Tree is a place for children to ponder and reflect."

After the planting ceremony, Chris Laybourn, the school's headteacher, told his pupils: "This is a very special place. If you sit here, it might be a place where you get a special thought, which could lead you on to help solve a problem or share a joke and that's the best memory we can have."

The ceremony marked the end of term before the children left for the Easter holidays and Mr Laybourn urged pupils to be careful. He said: "We want you to have fun on your Easter holidays but please take care of yourselves."

Howard, who was an Oxford Brookes University student, died when a car veered across the central reservation into his car.

Schoolboys Marshall Haynes, Liam Hastings and Josh Bartlett also died in the crash. They were in the car which crossed the central reservation which was driven by nurse Angela Dublin. Dublin, 45, of London Road, Headington, has admitted four charges of causing death by dangerous driving.