The mother of a teenager shot dead in south London has paid an emotional tribute to her son, saying he had “so much potential”.

Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, 17, was shot in Cooks Road, Kennington, just after 6pm on Saturday.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance rushed to the scene, but he was pronounced dead just before 7pm.

His mother Pretana Morgan today said: "I couldn't have asked for a better son. My son was a very handsome boy.

"He's got so much potential."

Ms Morgan said Rhyhiem was "trying to make a difference" by learning to work with children.

"This is not life. My son's a good boy," she said.

She also criticised the police, saying: "We're not being protected because of the police. The police are the ones putting us in danger."

Rhyhiem's godmother Lacey Main said he was a rapper and was made a target because he was young.

She said he was talented, adding he did not insult the people she believes are behind the shooting.

Ms Main said there have been incidents with boys coming to a nearby youth club in the area, adding: "So where is safe, then, from these people that they can cause so much havoc?"

She said Rhyhiem was shot at by someone in a car.

Ms Main added: "Any loss of life is a loss. It doesn't matter where they come from. It doesn't matter what religion, what culture, what skin colour... a life is a life. A young life is a young life."

Abigael Adeoye, 17, said she was best friends with Rhyhiem and knew him since primary school.

"I was with him everyday," she said.

Asked what her favourite thing about him was, she said: "That he was bubbly. He was really bubbly."

She added: "He used to message me every day and say 'Abigael come and see me'. I should have told him to stay at home yesterday."

Ms Morgan expressed her wishes to have Rhyhiem's remains returned to her.

"I just want them to hand over my son's body," she said.

The death is the latest in a spate of violent crimes in the capital, as police investigate more than 60 alleged murders so far this year.

London mayor Sadiq Khan urged anyone with any information about the incident to contact police.

"My thoughts are with the loved ones of the teenager who was tragically last night in a shooting in Southwark," he said.

"I have been in contact with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner about this appalling crime and am reassured the Met Police are doing everything they can to bring those responsible to justice."

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information should contact officers on 101 quoting reference cad 6414/5May, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.