Friends and family of a Hayes mum who died after a car crash carried on her fun-loving memory by surprising her son at school on his birthday – dressed as superheroes.

Faye Norris had made an annual tradition of showing up at Harley's school wearing everything from Scooby-Doo to Bananaman costumes.

On his 10th birthday, on Wednesday (May 13), around 20 people waited in the playground at Downe Manor Primary School, in Down Way, Northolt, dressed as everyone from Superman and Wonderwoman to Batman and Captain America.

As unsuspecting Harley left school to meet his undercover dad Tony, the crowd erupted into 'Happy Birthday' – joined by teachers, parents and pupils – and squirted the shocked youngster with aerosol string.

Miss Norris' sister, Kelly, who organised the stunt and dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Leonardo on the day, said: “He was gobsmacked. I said to him: 'Did you know?' He said: 'No. I didn't have a clue.'

“He was probably a little bit embarrassed, but you could tell by the look on his face he absolutely loved it.”

She added: “Because this year was his first birthday without his mum I just wanted it to be special for him.

“We definitely made his birthday and that's what she would have wanted, because he was her one and only.”

'One-off'

Miss Norris had been travelling in the passenger seat of her Vauxhall Corsa when her boyfriend, Carl Morris, crashed the car into five parked vehicles in Eastcote Lane, Harrow, on December 27 last year.

The 31-year-old carer, who lived in St Christopher's Drive, Hayes, died of her injuries a week later, on January 3.

Morris, 32, who had been driving at twice the speed limit, was jailed for five years and eight months in April, having pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and a string of other charges.

Kelly, 35, of Edward Road, Northolt, said she organised the birthday surprise to pay tribute to her sister.

She said: “People keep going: 'You've done your sister proud. She'll be looking down at you chuffed to bits that you've done this'.

“This was something Faye always did for Harley on his birthday and every year would be bigger and better.

“That was the kind of person she was. She didn't care about embarrassing herself. It was for her boy and that's all that mattered.

“She was just a one-off.”

Kelly went on to thank all of those who took part, including family friend Helen Wheir, who provided 30 party bags of sweets for the occasion.

She said: “I've got so many people to thank, because everyone did a marvellous job and made the day really special.”