The best friend of murdered Notting Hill teen Kojo Yenga is part of a hard-hitting anti-knife campaign aimed at every comprehensive in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Speaking beside a coffin at their former Fulham school, Bilal Ayonote told shocked 15 and 16-year-old Henry Compton pupils how he felt when his friend was knifed to death by a mob of youths in Hammersmith Grove last March.

He was joined at the Kingwood Road school by police officers and a prisoner on day-release, for a series of discussions about the danger of carrying knives.

Bilal, 18, said: "I asked for a coffin to be bought in, because when I had to see one and see my friend in it. It was the thing that affected me most in my life. I wanted to try and explain that.

"We have lost a generation of people my age who think it is fine to carry a knife, but we can still reach out to the younger ones. The ones my age learnt the hard way."

Hammersmith and Fulham borough commander Kevin Hurley said: "If you are with a friend and he sticks a knife in somebody, I will put you away for a very long time. Just ask some of the kids doing life because they were there when Kojo was stabbed." 

Youngsters who carry knives are also being targeted by a mobile phone campaign launched at two Hammersmith and Fulham schools.

School pupils are being urged to text a Crimestoppers number with details of people they believe are carrying knives.

Officers also handed out cards at Phoenix High School in The Curve, Shepherd's Bush at at Henry Compton. Texts to the number, 88551, cannot be traced and nobody can reply.