A petition has begun to name one of the new Woolwich ferries after a Swanley teenager who died whilst working on the river crossing.

Ben Woollacott was just 19-years-old when he was killed after being dragged overboard by a mooring rope in August, 2011.

Despite paramedics’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene having suffered serious head injuries.

Now to honour Ben, who was a sixth-generation Thames Waterman, long-standing family friend and colleague Dave Jessop has launched a petition to have his name emblazoned on one of the two new Woolwich ferries TfL is planning to build.

Mr Jessop, a senior deckhand who has worked on the Woolwich Ferry for 23 years, described Ben as "one of life's characters".

The 61-year-old told News Shopper: "We have had nearly a thousand signatures in just over 24 hours - that's pretty good I think."

News Shopper:

Ben Woollacott was killed working on the Woolwich Ferry in 2011.

Writing on the online petition Ben’s mother Sandra Woollocott, from Swanley, said seeing his name on the Woolwich Ferry would be "an honour for my beautiful, darling son".

She wrote: "Lets create a memorial that will carry his memory and keep him forever in the heart of London and the Londoners who love him."

Just days before his death Ben, who was in the final year of an apprenticeship, had gotten engaged to his 18-year-old girlfriend Jade Humphreys.

Ms Humphreys wrote on the petition page: "Benjamin Woollacott will forever be spoken and remembered by everyone but what a huge honour it would be to have a boat named after him.

"I know he would love the fact of having a boat named after him."

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Following his death Serco Limited was fined £200,000 with £200,000 costs after an eight day trial at Inner London Crown Court.

Serco Limited was convicted of one charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of the Ernest Bevin crew under the NS & FV (Health and Safety at Work) Regs 1997, the MCA said.

The company was cleared of a second separate charge of failing to ensure the safe operation of the Ernest Bevin under Section 100 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

So far more than 1,000 people have signed the petition which is available online by clicking here.