There were emotional scenes as hundreds of people came together at a vigil for a teenager who was knocked down and killed as she walked to college. Alisha Riya Goup, 16, died when she was hit by a BMW in Oldham last month.
On Sunday afternoon around 300 family and friends attended a memorial for Alisha. Led by her parents Bijur and Anuradha, they walked from Coldhurst Community Centre to Coldhurst Community Park, close to where to Alisha was knocked down on Rochdale Road on February 23.
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There dozens of blue balloons were released in her memory. Alisha's uncle Dilip Goup, told the Manchester Evening News : "We didn't expect to get this sort of support from the community. From the day Alisha passed so many people have passed on their condolences.
"It was a shock to the whole community - that a 16-year-old just going about her daily business could be taken away like this. The main reason we are doing this today is to raise awareness.
"That roads is used by so many young kids. We want to make sure this doesn't happen to another family."
Born and raised in Coldhurst, Alisha was taking her A Levels at Oldham College and wanted to go on to university to study business before setting up her own company. Dilip described his niece as smart and capable, but also fairly quiet and reserved.
He said she was obsessed with Apple products and the pair of them would compete to see who had the latest gadgets. "Her parents are still coming to terms with it," he added.
"They still can't believe she's gone. People say time is a great healer, but I don't think this will ever heal."
Addressing the vigil family friend Bodrul Alam said: "She was all our daughters. As a community we all feel her loss.
"It's lovely to see so many people from different races, different backgrounds coming together in solidarity with the family.
"I cannot put into words how difficult and devastating it must be for them."
Elizabeth Scoltock, head of governors at Alisha's former school, St Hilda's primary, said: "All our hearts are broken. Alisha was a sweet and kind girl."
An inquest opening last week heard Alisha died when she was hit by a BMW which had mounted the pavement after it had been involved in a crash with a Ford Fiesta at the junction of Rochdale Road and Crompton Street.
Omar Choudhury, 21, of Broadway, and Hamidur Rahman, 23, of Tilbury Street, both Oldham, have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
When the pair appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on February 27, they were remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until April 3 when they will appear at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.
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