Lanterns to be released in memory of Lewis

Lanterns will be released into the Newark sky this evening as a tribute to a teenager who lost his life in a car crash.

The event, on Clay Lane, has been organised in memory of 18-year-old Lewis Harrison Hopewell.

Lewis died following a crash on the A46 southbound, near Brough, in the early hours of last Wednesday.

The lanterns will be released, in intervals, from 8pm. Those attending will be asked to donate £5, with money being given to Lewis’s family.

One of Lewis’s friends, Casey Harker, said: “My friend Emily Banyard came up with the idea and together we developed it.

“We made an event on Facebook to see how far we could go with it. At first, we though maybe 30 to 40 people would come but the response has been unreal.

“I’ve been friends with Lewis since I was 13. He was someone I could always look to for support and he was always up for a good time. Some of my best memories have been with him.

“He was the life of the party and a friend to anyone who met him.”

Organisers said they had spoken to the fire service regarding the safe release of the lanterns.