THE mother of murdered schoolgirl Ellie Gould and three of her closest friends are continuing their campaign to get self defence classes included on the national curriculum.

Carole Gould along with Ellie Welling, Harriet Adams and Tilda Offen, who are sixth form pupils of Hardenhuish School, Chippenham, appeared on BBC Breakfast last week and were interviewed by Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty.

Ellie, 17, from Calne was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Thomas Griffiths in May last year in the kitchen of the family home. He was sentenced to life but may only serve 12 years.

Her friends, who had accepted Griffiths into their friendship group after he started going out with Ellie, believe she may have been able to protect herself if she had known basic self defence.

They are being backed in their campaign by North Wiltshire MP James Gray who has written to the Department of Education.

Ellie Welling, 18, said: “We would never have dreamt he could do anything like he did. Ellie was an amazingly kind and funny girl.

Tilda said: “If Ellie had just known the simplest technique to get him off her she would still have her life.” Mr Gray said: “If self-defence was taught then a potential murderer would have realised he had met his match.”