THE legacy of a much-loved teenager who lost her battle with cancer last year has been cemented into the heart of the town as a Wantage road was named in her honour.

Memories of 17-year-old Maisie Norton will be forever remembered as the name Norton Court, just off Challow Road, was unveiled at a new housing development.

Maisie passed away at her home in Grove on October 8, after a six-year battle with cancer, and this June would have celebrated her 18th birthday.

This was marked with a belated but fitting tribute at Monday's unveiling when family and friends came together to cut the pink ribbon, let off pink balloons and raise a glass of pink bubbly for the teen.

With tears in her eyes, Maisie's mum Rosie Norton said: "One of the very last things Maisie said to me was 'what if nobody remembers me, what if people forget'.

"So something like this is really overwhelming and if Maisie was still here she would be absolutely beaming.

"It has been an emotional few weeks with Maisie's birthday and the Year 13 leavers ball, everyday I still can't quite believe she's actually gone.

"But to have this named after Maisie is really amazing."

The road naming was proposed by family friend Nicky Henshall, who at the end of last year entered the teen's name into a competition to name a Thomson plane after her.

Ms Henshall entered Maisie's nickname "Madger Moo" and though it pulled in nearly 10,500 votes, it unfortunately fell short of the winning spot.

She said: "I don't like not getting my own way and I thought it would be a shame for all those votes and effort from friends not to do anything.

"I thought about another airline so Maisie could fly free and see the world but didn't know who to contact, so I thought about getting a road named after her instead.

"So I went to our friends Sam and Clive Robson at Bellwood Project Development and asked how we go about it."

Developer Mr Robson of Bellwood Project Development, who also took part in a cycle fundraiser for Maisie in the past, helped unveil Norton Court – just along the road from Maisie's school King Alfred’s Academy.

It houses six new homes of which the first resident will move into No1 Norton Court on Monday.

Ms Henshall added: "That way when we are all gone she will still be here and just a stones throw from the school she went to which made it that bit more personal."

It is also the second road in Oxfordshire to include a QR code. which is similar to barcode that can be scanned with a mobile phone and brings up a page about Maisie written by her father Steve Norton.

Mrs Norton added: "We really miss her and as a family there is a huge chunk missing.

"It is so overwhelming how many other people miss her, she made such an impact and it is so inspiring."