ONE of the last things Philippa Denham said to her son was not to mess around on quad bikes. Fourteen-year-old Michael Moss was adventurous and didn't think he would come to any harm.

But on September 5, 2004 the teenager died, riding a motorcross bike in America, where he was staying with his father.

The tragic accident happened in North Carolina where Michael's father, Steven, 43, lived, with his wife Kimberley.

Since then Mrs Denham, of Chiseldon, has been trying to cope with life without her beloved son.

Sitting across a kitchen table from the 39-year-old her heartbreak is clear to see.

Talking about what happened that fateful day is as raw two years on as it was when Mrs Denham was first told her son had died.

As she thought about Michael it was impossible to hold back her grief and suffering.

She was shaking as she recalled what he was like. She said: "Michael loved sports. He loved being outside.

"He was a happy, mischievous, respectful and cheeky teenager who hoped to go to college and maybe join the Air Force. He was very popular, he made friends easily."

In 2004 Michael, who was a pupil at Dorcan Technology College, decided he would spend a year with his father, who was in the American Air Force.

"He wanted to go out there for a year to see what it was like," said Mrs Denham, who lives with her partner David Grand, 44, a property worker "He was doing really well at school over there and was asked to join two football teams."

But while he was there he also became interested in motorbikes.

The day before he died Mrs Denham, who has two daughters, Simone Moss, 14, and eight-year-old Cearra Denham, had spoken to Michael and he told her he had ridden a quad bike.

"I told him not to ride them, they were dangerous," she said.

"I think it's crazy for any parent to let their children ride them."

The following day Michael decided to try a motorcross bike.

"It was six days before his 15th birthday. His dad was having a party for him, they were arranging it and Michael went off," she said.

At an inquest, held at Swindon's Civic Offices, Swindon and Wiltshire coroner David Masters said Michael's step-mother told him to stay away from the bike just 15 minutes before the accident.

Michael was thrown from the bike and landed on his head. He was wearing a helmet and was conscious when paramedics arrived.

He was taken to a hospital 10 miles away where he died.

The post mortem report that was prepared in America said Michael died from a blunt force trauma as a result of the accident.

Mr Masters recorded a verdict of accidental death.

"It's been hard for all of us, I have good and bad days," said Mrs Denham.

She added: "I miss his smile the most."