“IT is a landmark that will remind future generations just how great our dad was and what he meant to the people of St Helens.”

Those words, spoken by 12-year-old Taylor Prescott – eldest son of the late, great Steve – summed up just what the honour of St Helens Council naming the bridge after the ex-rugby player and prolific fundraiser means to the family.

So many tributes were paid last Friday night when hundreds turned out despite driving rain to see the crossing dedicated to Steve, three months after his death at the age of 39 from cancer.

But Taylor’s tribute was the most telling and poignant. Giving a speech to the crowds, he said: “On behalf of Koby, my mum and I, I would like to say a massive thank you to St Helens Council and Saints for naming the bridge after my dad.

“He was and always will be our hero and will be in our hearts and minds forever.

“This landmark will remind future generations how great our dad was and what he meant to the people of St Helens. We hope his name will continue to inspire people as he continues to inspire us every day.”

Taylor and younger brother Koby, aged seven, unveiled artwork designs for the bridge, which will be installed at a later date.

They include the iconic image of Steve celebrating one of his two tries at Wembley in 1996 and features the motto his monumental challenges came to be defined by: “The body achieves what the mind believes.”

Crowds for the ceremony – led by the BBC5 Live broadcaster and Steve Prescott Foundation Ambassador George Riley – were told it was fitting that the bridge links the town he loved so much with the home of the club he played for with such distinction.

Steve’s widow Linzi, from Eccleston, said the lasting tribute underlined her husband’s strength: “The reaction of the people of St Helens makes me feel so proud – the turn out here is fantastic and is really comforting to us as a family.

“I am sure Steve would have felt very proud and honoured. He didn't do what he did for recognition so he would have been embarrassed by all of this too.

“Stephen and I learned to be strong over the past few years and having the bridge in his name will provide a lasting memory of how strong he was.”

The event was followed by the Saints versus Hull fixture at Langtree Park, where Koby and Taylor were mascots and Steve’s brother Neil carried out the matchball.