A heartbroken mother has made a desperate plea to parents after her teenage son was killed by a motorbike as he listened to his iPod.

Aaron Paul, described by his as family as a 'live wire', is thought to have been listening to music on his way home when he stepped into the road and was hit by a biker.

The 17-year-old had half of his skull removed and eventually lost his fight for life after an eight-month battle.

Today mother Myra Jasper, 40, said: "If Aaron's story means just one parent stops their child before they leave the house and pleads with them to only have one ear piece in, is any at all, I would be happy."

Aaron, who was studying at Steyning Grammar, was on his way back from seeing friends in Upper Beeding when he was hit by a motorcyclist on the A2037, Shoreham Road, which has a national speed limit of 60mph.

He was air lifted to London suffering from horrific brain injuries.

Mrs Jasper said: "He had to undergo a series of emergency operations and had half of his skull removed.

"He then had another part removed as doctors attempted to repair the damage done to his brain.

"There were two or three times when he opened his eyes slightly but it was impossible to tell whether he recognised anyone."

Aaron had been hit by the bike at 5pm on July 19 last year as he walked along the A2037.

Ambulance crews said he had one of the earpieces of his iPod still in when he was found.

Aaron, who was planning to start a bricklaying course at Northbrook College two months after the accident, was treated at The Royal London Hospital and Worthing Hospital.

Mrs Jasper, of Downsview Small Dole, said: "We were told on several occasions he was close to death and we had him baptised but he fought through.

"We talked to him, told him what was happening, gave him massages, I wore a perfume that was familiar to him and washed his blankets in fabric conditioner from home.

"As long as your child is fighting – you are fighting, he has been such a brave, strong boy."

But Aaron, never regained consciousness and died on March 6.

Mrs Jasper said: "We were phoned by the hospital but sadly we didn't get there in time. I stayed with him for three hours afterwards saying goodbye."

She added: "I would like to highlight the dangers of people listening to their iPods near roads.

"It's incredibly important that anyone, especially children, know what is going on in their surroundings.

"If one parent pleads with their child not to listen to music near roads, something will have come from Aaron's death."

Aaron’s stepfather Allen Jasper, 57, paid tribute to his stepson, saying: "He was a good boy with a great sense of humour, he loved to get involved with everything and was very close to his younger brother Bradley who has found the loss very hard."

A funeral for Aaron will take place at Worthing Crematorium on Wednesday at 11.40am.