Lee Hitchcock says her son was a 'loving young man'

Ben Hitchcock, 16, was killed by a single stab wound to the stomach when up to 40 youths clashed in Beckenham, south-east London, in June.

Lee Hitchcock said some teenagers were shielding her son's murderer and appealed for them to come forward.

About 20 teenagers have been arrested and released on bail, but police are still searching for witnesses.

Detectives have said they have five prime suspects who could have been holding the knife that killed Ben during the fight in Southend Road at about 2300 BST on June 23.

"I'm begging the walls that are protecting this boy to come down because this country has gone mad," said Mrs Hitchcock, 46.

Gang loyalty

"We have got children killing children for absolutely no reason whatsoever."

Five knives and a range of weapons including sticks, broken bottles and bricks have been recovered from the scene.

Det Ch Insp David Garwood said teenagers from across south-east London had raced to the area ready for trouble after partygoers in a nearby street phoned friends to say they were being held "hostage" by a gang outside.

"This was not an attack in isolation with no one around. This was part of a large scale disturbance," he said.

Detectives have offered a �10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Ben's killer.

But police have admitted the reward has yet to persuade any witnesses with crucial evidence to come forward.