Two mothers grieving for their murdered sons are pleading for tougher action on knife crime.

As The Argus launched its Knives Cost Lives campaign, Helen Long and Carol Stunell begged politicians to set a minimum prison term for criminals who carry blades.

With the first anniversary of their sons' deaths approaching, the heartbroken mothers asked judges who decide the fate of knifewielding thugs to use the full extent of their sentencing powers.

They also made a heartfelt plea to people who carry blades to drop their weapons and consider the devastation they could cause.

In the past ten years, the number of children aged ten to 17 convicted for carrying a blade in Sussex has increased by 500%.

The number of those over 18 convicted has more than doubled.

Mrs Long, 36, told of the moment she learnt her son, Michael Morgan, 15, had been murdered at a party at a council-owned caravan park in Lancing.

His killer Kieran Wright, 17, was given a life sentence in December last year for butchering his sleeping friend with two kitchen knives five months earlier.

Mrs Long, of Nicolson Drive, Shoreham, said: "I remember everything from the moment the door knocked and a friend of mine told me Michael had been found dead.

"It was like my whole world spun.

I didn't believe what I was hearing.

It was just shock horror. My knees buckled and I fell to the ground.

"It was as if it wasn't happening.

It felt like I was looking down at someone else. I didn't want to believe it. It has just been a struggle since. It's as hard today as it was nearly 12 months ago. There are days when I don't want to get up, don't want to do anything, don't want to talk about it.

"It's just hard processing everything that's happened. One minute Michael was here then a split second later he was gone.

"Half of me went with Michael and I'll never forgive or get over it. I just want the kids of today, not just the teenagers, to stop and think before they pick up a knife.

"It destroys people's lives. Not just the family and friends but everyone around. Those that are carrying a knife have some intent to use it, otherwise they wouldn't carry a knife.

"When you see terrible things on the TV you say, that poor family, what must they be going through?' "When you've been through it yourself and you hear about it again or read about it in the newspaper, your heart goes out to all the families because you know how they feel."

Mrs Stunell, 51, cradled her dying son David, 22, after he was stabbed in the neck in the Seven Dials, Brighton, on July 28 last year.

On Wednesday, Aaron Aymer, from London, was sentenced to life for murder. He will serve at least 16 years before being considered for parole.

Mrs Stunell, of Desmond Way, Brighton, said: "It's getting much harder now it's coming up to the first year. The house is so quiet and empty without David.

"In the summer months I'd be sitting out in the garden during the evening and his window would be open and he'd play his music. I'd be shouting up to him to turn it down.

"I still feel it should be life for life.

That should be, in my opinion, a good 30 years.

"People like this are a danger to the public. The longer they are behind bars the better.

"When that person who took my David's life is released, he will still have a life ahead of him but my David won't."

In the past two years there have been 13 knife offences in Sussex schools.

A recent survey of schoolchildren nationwide revealed 41% knew someone who had been affected by gun or knife crime and 29% had been personally affected. The survey found 36% were worried about gangs in their area and only 28% felt safe in their communities.

Politicians are backing The Argus campaign. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel and South Downs, said: "It isn't acceptable that one third of those who have been arrested for possession of a knife were let off with just a warning or caution.

"We have to get the message across that carrying a knife isn't acceptable. Zero tolerance means zero tolerance.

"Knife crime is an issue of great public concern. We have had a string of high-profile cases and the public feels that action needs to be taken."

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "It is right that a more serious approach is taken to knife crime, which can and does result in serious injuries, disfigurements and deaths with all the anguish that causes."

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper said: "People aged 16 should be prosecuted on the first offence.

There is a lot of other work which needs to be done with people under 16 such as educating them that they will get in more trouble by carrying a knife."

Brighton Kemptown MP Des Turner said: "Knives have become far too common and it is very dangerous for teenagers to carry them. If knives are carried they will get used sooner or later."

Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson said: "There should be a presumption of prosecution for anyone carrying a knife, with the severest sentences for those carrying them with intent to cause harm.

"Clearly there is an epidemic of knife crime and a lot of young people think they have to carry knives for their own protection.

"We have to persuade them it is putting themselves more at risk."

Peter Bottomley, the Worthing West MP, said: "Anyone who carries a weapon is making a big mistake for themselves certainly and possibly for others as well."

He had blood coming out of his neck

Schoolboy Albert Hillier, 16, of Cobden Road, Worthing, was attacked on the evening of May 22 in Victoria Park, less than 20 yards from his home.

Two men, aged 18 to 20, threw him to the floor and both held carving knives to his throat as they searched his pockets.

Albert said: "One grabbed me by the throat, pulled out a knife and held it to my neck with the other hand. Then he grabbed me by the collar and pulled me over to the grass where it was darker.

"It was pitch black and I couldn't see who it was. They both had hoods on. I had two knives held to my face while I was on the floor.

They were asking what I had and were feeling through my pockets.

"One held the knife to the middle of my palm and the other held it to my neck. He said, through your hand,' and pushed it through my hand. It went straight through and came out the other side.

"He pulled it back out again and they both ran off laughing. I was really scared and I didn't know what they were capable of. I just thought, I don't want to die.'"

Asked about punishment for knife criminals, Albert said: "Just put them inside. They are scumbags."

Albert had 29 stitches at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead.

Doctors said he was lucky not to have damaged nerves which would have left him paralysed. He has a 5in scar on his right hand and a mark on the back of his neck.

His mother Chloe, 40, a carer for children with special needs, recounted the terrifying moments her bleeding son returned home.

She said: "I had just fallen asleep because it had just gone 10pm. I woke up because the door was banging and Albert was saying I've been stabbed. Call an ambulance.' "Albert was outside with all this blood pumping. He was standing with a ripped top on and blood coming out of his neck.

"We should stop slapping the criminals on the wrists. Kids nowadays haven't got a life where they can go out and enjoy themselves. Living in this fear is horrific and everyone is scared.

Anyone who carries a knife deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law."