THE mother of murdered backpacker Caroline Stuttle has said she will dedicate her life to a foundation set up in her daughter's memory.

Marjorie Stuttle, 53, has established Caroline's Rainbow Foundation as a tribute to the 19-year-old, who was attacked and thrown from a bridge in Queensland, Australia, earlier this year.

"The foundation is the only way of helping me through each day. It's my only way forward. It's going to be a full-time job," said Mrs Stuttle, of Huntington Road, York.

Mrs Stuttle described her determination to make the foundation a success as she prepared to perform her first official function in its name - presenting an award to the best psychology student at York College, Elly Pegg.

Mrs Stuttle said the main focus of Caroline's Rainbow Foundation would be to help backpackers who get into difficulties in Australia and the UK.

Ultimately, she said, the aim is to gain charitable status and expand the project worldwide.

The idea for the foundation developed in the days after Caroline's death, as family and friends - including Sarah Holiday, Caroline's companion on her trip - comforted each other.

Mrs Stuttle said: "Sarah said Caroline loved rainbows and, through all the tears, we thought it would be nice to do something in her memory. This is going to be my lifetime's work now."

The foundation is to work with hostels to offer free accommodation to backpackers in trouble, and also wants to develop a personal alarm and, eventually, a call centre.

Mrs Stuttle said: "If it hadn't turned out so badly for Caroline, she would have been left without money and very vulnerable, and from a mother's point of view, you would want to know she would have somewhere to go."

For further details, contact Caroline's Rainbow Foundation, PO Box 216, York, YO42 4WZ, or call (01759) 304425.