A campaign aimed at cracking down on senseless violence has been launched by the Lancashire Telegraph in memory of a 24-year-old killed by a single punch.

Adam Rogers died last year as he tried to prevent a fight in Blackburn town centre.

His grieving parents Dave and Pat were keen to team up with the Telegraph to launch an anti-violence campaign, but for legal reasons it had to wait until the end of the court proceedings against his attacker.

Last month, however, 17-year-old William Upton was sentenced to three and a half years’ detention for the unlawful blow which killed him.

The campaign was eventually launched last week with a three-page special and features on victims as well as what a typical weekend is like in both Blackburn and Burnley town centres.

Launching the campaign in the newspaper, Telegraph editor Kevin Young said: “This campaign is aimed at tackling a major problem in our society.

“The death of Adam Rogers was utterly shocking. All who knew Adam have talked about a very special person who went out of his way to help others.

“Most of us can barely imagine the pain to his family and friends of such a loss, but it speaks volumes for the character of his parents that they are determined to turn this appalling tragedy into a force for positive change.”

Crime reporter Sam Chadderton added: “Getting the message across to young people of the potential devastating consequences of a single punch, thrown spontaneously, is the key thread to the campaign.

“During an alcohol-fuelled flashpoint, if you then choose to resort to violence first, that decision can have life-changing consequences for your victim and their family as well as you and your family.”

Added Sam: “As a reporter of almost five years’ experience, my involvement with the Rogers family and the campaign has been the single most touching ‘story’ I have worked on.

“I had written and read the launch piece interview with the Rogers family several times before I saw it in print.

“Yet when I opened the paper that day, I was reminded again of sitting at the Rogers’ family table, underneath a canvas of Adam, hearing their pain.

“Hopefully, I can try and get across through the articles and the campaign that sense of loss and dedication, so that anyone who reads them will remember the reasons why we are doing it.”