A YORK student is being encouraged to "live her dream" by the father of murdered backpacker Caroline Stuttle.

Alan Stuttle has set up an annual travel bursary for students at Huntington School, where Caroline was a pupil, to encourage their artistic talent through travel.

The bursary of £500 was awarded for the first time to Jane Bradley, who will be using it to travel to the United States.

Jane said she would be spending the money on a trip to New York to view works of art, and would produce a piece of work to go in the school.

Alan said giving the bursary was one way that helped him to draw a line under the tragic events of the last two years.

He said: "It is a wonderful opportunity and a great joy to be able to give them some money to help them move on in their careers. It is not a lot of money, but is something they can use to help them do what they want."

Alan, a former student of the Royal College of Art in London, said: "I was helped many years ago by college tutors and was encouraged to develop my talent. I was given an easel, which I still have today."

The bursary was awarded after students put in bids based on what they would spend the money on. Alan is hoping to give a bursary each year.

Caroline was 19 when she was murdered in April 2002, in Bundaberg, Australia.

Updated: 09:16 Saturday, May 22, 2004