TWO families whose loved ones died as a result of violent altercations were out in force at the weekend in an attempt to end street crime.

The family of Gavin Robinson, who died after being punched in Thornaby, near Stockton, in June, marked a milestone on Saturday after collecting 11,000 signatures for their petition in only five weeks.

The Robinson family set up Thornaby Against Street Crime (Tasc) after 30-year-old accountant Gavin was knocked to the ground by his attacker for refusing to hand over a cigarette after a night out. He suffered brain damage and died nine days later.

His family will hand the petition to the Government in the hope of raising awareness about trouble spots in Thornaby.

They are also working with police in the town.

The Court of Appeal is to reconsider the sentence given to Mr Robinson’s killer, Richard Wyatt. Wyatt received only 18 months at Teesside Crown Court after admitting manslaughter.

Mr Robinson’s sister, Alex Robinson-Raper, said Tasc would continue to drum up support for the campaign.

She said: “Our short term aim was to get a review of the sentence handed down to Gavin’s killer, and we have achieved that.

“Now, we are also working with the police.”

Also on Saturday, Barbara Dunne, whose son, Robert, was stabbed by a man wielding a samurai sword only yards from his home in West Lane, Middlesbrough, in 2003, spoke to young offenders about the dangers of knives.

Mrs Dunne was at The Attendance Centre, in Middlesbrough, to talk to released prisioners and probationers about how knives can kill and ruin the lives.

Mrs Dunne, who is also a Middlesbrough councillor, has campaigned tirelessly since her 31-year-old son was killed, leaving behind a baby, and has set up the Mothers Against Knives group.

She has also lobbied the Government and has been working with young people.

Her son’s attacker Jason Kelly, 24, is serving an eightyear sentence after pleading guilty to murder.

Ron Gordon, an instructor at The Attendance Centre, said that in one of the groups Mrs Dunne spoke to, four of the six people had carried a knife at some point.

“Barbara was very good,”

he said. “The idea behind Barbara coming in was to let the young people know about the gravity of carrying a knife.”