FRIENDS of a former Tavistock College student who died in Iraq last year have launched an appeal to raise a memorial in his name.

Private Andrew Kelly died in Basra on May 6, aged just 18. He was serving as part of Operation Telic with the Third Parachute Regiment at the time of his death.

Joe Smith of Yelverton, one of Andrew's closest friends, said: 'Myself and a number of Andrew's friends are trying to raise funds for a memorial bench, which will be put in Tavistock Meadows.

'We have raised a small amount of funds through our own money — we are hoping to have the bench in place by Andrew's birthday, which is March 9.'

Joe said the friends are hoping to raise at least £300 to buy the special bench. He said Andrew was brought up in the Tavistock area and was a pupil at the college until he left in 2001. He asked for anyone who knew Andrew and who would like to give a donation to the bench appeal to contact him on 01822 855100.

Private Kelly had always wanted to be a para . He was sent to the Gulf just five days after his 18th birthday.