The mother of a Barking teenager who was stabbed after he left a school leaver’s party has made an emotional appeal to find his killers on the first anniversary of his death.

Joshua Bwalya, 16, was “cornered and repeatedly stabbed” by a number of youths on push bikes in Ripple Road, Barking, on August 2 last year and died at the scene.

Two of his friends were also stabbed but survived their injuries.

Joshua’s mother Queenie Bwalya said: “Our lives are not the same.

“The family has been torn apart, Joshua was the youngest child in the family and is survived by four sisters and a brother.

“I cannot stop imagining how frightened Joshua must have felt when he was being chased by the youths responsible. That I, his mother, was not there to protect him as he sought refuge and called out for help.

“We struggle to find the strength to carry on with our lives, which now have been totally changed.

“We miss Joshua so much that it hurts all the time. We visit his grave trying to find the answers and gain a sense of inner peace. We always pray that his soul rests in eternal perfect peace.

“To this day we trust that one day justice will prevail, that someone will come forward to testify in this case.”

She added: “Even now I cannot remember a lot thereafter.

“It is all still a living nightmare. We are still looking to achieve a sense of peace.

Police are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those involved with Joshua’s killing.

Det Chf Insp Gary Holmes, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was a cowardly and brutal attack on a young boy.

“We know Joshua was pursued by a group of youths on pedal cycles, cornered and repeatedly stabbed.

“We have made a number of arrests in this case, but we still need the public’s help to bring Joshua’s killers to justice.

“We are renewing the appeal and offering a substantial reward for information that leads to the prosecution of those responsible.”

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8345 1570 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.