Ceremony marks James' 18th birthday

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James' mother Denise Fergus will take part in the private ceremony at Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool alongside family and friends of the child.

James was murdered by 10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson on February 13 1993 in a crime that stunned the world. The child was abducted from a shopping centre and killed on a railway line.

Speaking about James' birthday, Mrs Fergus said: "It's going to be hard but I'm still going to give him the birthday he so much deserves. My family and very close friends are going to the cemetery and I do want the kids to set off 18 red balloons because I think it's so important for James to celebrate his 18th birthday wherever he is.

"But I just want the day to come and go as quickly as possible so I'm going to put the cake down on his grave for him."

She said she would be involving her three children Michael, 14, Thomas, nine, and Leon, eight, in the event. Mrs Fergus, who lives in Kirkby, Liverpool, said: "They do understand what's going on. They don't understand the full details of what happened to him but they have had to grow up with James' murder."

The 38-year-old also said James' killers had taken her "whole world" away from her.

She said: "I don't think they should have been able to celebrate their 18th birthdays and should not be allowed to be walking around freely. They did do a most horrendous crime. They took away my whole world from me. A part of their lives should have been taken from them.

"I'm not saying lock them up indefinitely but 10 to 15 years. At least then we would have seen a bit of justice for James. I am really annoyed that they have gone on to create new lives for themselves with new identities and they are protected.

"I don't think the Government have done enough for me, they could have done more. I've fought for 15 years for justice for James and I have never won anything."