THE grieving mother of much-loved Oliver Scott who took his own life after a payday loan went wrong was invited to lay the first stone at the new West Ham Football Stadium in his memory.

Dawn Scott, 59, of Harrington Crescent, North Stifford, lost her beloved Oliver, at the age of just 18.

He took his own life after taking out a pay day loan from Wonga, five years ago.

Tributes poured in from around the community after his death, where he left behind grieving mum Dawn, dad Geoff Scott, 60 and brother Max, 21 and sister Mia, 16.

Last month, mum Dawn was invited to the new West Ham Football stadium to lay the first stone in his honour on Wednesday, June 29.

The Hammers’ first game at their new home on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford is just weeks away, so the ceremony marked a literal milestone for the football club, as well as the family.

After laying a stone marked with her son’s date of birth and date of death, which her husband purchased a few months ago, Mrs Scott said it was “emotional but beautiful” to remember her son in this way.

Mrs Scott said: “I was very surprised to be asked to lay the first stone and just shocked that we were the first ones to walk in the new stadium.

“It was emotional to lay the first stone but it was still beautiful. Now his stone will be up with all the champions. It’s like he’s up in a Hall of Fame.

I think it suits his personality really well, as he was a really popular lad. We had hundreds of tributes pour in for him.”

Oliver Scott, who was was from North Stifford, died after being struck by a train at Romford station.

He had become addicted to going to bingo halls and gambling.

To fund the habit, he was borrowing money from pay-day loan companies such as Wonga and Toothfairy who offer cash instantly, but can charge interest rates of around 4000%.

Both parents have worked tirelessly since his death to raise awareness of the damage pay day loans can cause to the young and vulnerable.  

Their plight included raising awareness on Good Morning TV.

Mrs Scott continued: “I feel like the work we have done has helped, we don’t see the adverts any more.

"I think a lot was done by people like us as parents everywhere were not aware of the dangers.

"With Oliver, he was very, very intelligent and very bright.

"I will say five years on, you never get over it but you do learn to live with it.”