A mum from Barrow has transformed an old sofa with colourful cartoon characters as a tribute to her son who took his own life.

Tyler Wearing was 23 when he was found at his home in August 2021 alongside a message apologising to loved ones.

According to the inquest into his death, Tyler struggled with mental health issues relating to the loss of a stillborn child in 2018 and a leg injury before his death. The dad-of-three was also described as having a 'significant' drug problem.

His mum, 59-year-old Vikki Wearing, began a touching tribute to him four months ago with all the family adding characters. 

This includes Tyler's three-year-old son, who lives with her and has special needs. She has been fitting the project in between when the toddler is asleep or in crèche.

The mum-of-seven said: "I have an old three-seater sofa that was horrible and I just suddenly had the idea one day. Tyler absolutely loved Monsters Inc, Salad Fingers and Chuckie so I just started drawing.

"I have another son, Jake, who is 22 and who began helping me. My daughter followed and we've just kept on adding characters from everyone.

"We've added cartoons Tyler's son Layton likes such as from Adventure Time and Numberjacks. He's getting to the age where he's beginning to talk so he's always pointing them out and shouting 'Dave Spud.'"

Vikki and her family draw the characters in pencil first then use fabric paint with tiny brushes.

Both the mum and grandmother have always been artistic and have painted several cats on the walls, a mural in the garage and once decked out her daughter Rianne's room with Mr Blobby colours.

Speaking about the sofa, Vikki said: "Tyler would say 'mam, you're mad' but he'd love that all we've all added to it. We were always doing funny things for his birthday and we'd have 'Crispmas' where we'd hang different packets of crisps on a peg line.

"He'd be so happy with what we've created."

The family just has the sides of the sofa to go before the fun tribute is finished.