Karen Westcott looks at the life of a bright and well-loved toddler whose life was tragically cut short

LITTLE Kyle Fisher was a bright and loving child when his life was cruelly cut short before he reached the age of three.

The toddler was able to count to ten, recite letters of the alphabet, and would try to read advertisements from the TV - despite being only two-and-half-yearsold.

He could often be heard telling his mother, Clare Fisher, that he loved her, and he liked nothing more than a cuddle.

But something tragically happened to the trusting and loving little boy that was ultimately to end his young life.

Kyle lived with his 20-year-old mother, Clare, in Troutpool Close, on the Central Estate, in Hartlepool.

It emerged during the trial at Teesside Crown Court in the months after his death, that although he had not had a most perfect upbringing, he was very loved.

The court heard how his mother was young and inexperienced, and was sometimes unaware of his needs.

Indeed, she had left him home alone at night to go out with friends, and her house was said to be unkempt and rarely cleaned.

However, he enjoyed playing like other boys of his age, and he loved going to visit his grandmother Linda Fisher every day, who lived nearby in Somersby Close.

After his death, his mother said: "From the day I had Kyle, my whole life changed for the better.

"As a single mother, Kyle was my life and everywhere I went, he would be there right by my side.

"I adored Kyle so much. I couldn't have asked for a more well-behaved and well-mannered little boy.

"I will miss him so much. My life will never be the same."

During a rare interview, Miss Fisher welled with tears, but then broke into a smile, as she remembered her beautiful boy.

"Kyle was spot on," she said.

"He was very intelligent. He could pick things up very easy.

He knew his alphabet and his numbers.

"He even knew how to differentiate the different numbers.

"When an advert came on the TV, he would read the advert and reel off the number no problem.

He was so funny."

And like all children, Kyle loved cartoons, particularly Nemo. But he also loved playing with other children.

"He was a very sociable little boy - he was a very pleasant kid,"

she said.

"He was just a normal little boy who had everything to live for."

His grandmother, Ms Fisher, said she would always remember Kyle as "ray of sunshine".

She said: "He was a light in all of our lives. If there was ever an angel, it would be Kyle, because I have never known such a good and well-behaved child.

"He was a healthy, happy and loving child. We will all love and remember Kyle for ever."