A children's charity has been set up in honour of a Bradford soldier killed in Iraq.

Sergeant Christian Hickey was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra last month, a day before his tour of duty was due to end.

Now members of his battalion at the Coldstream Guards have decided to create a foundation to support the children of Coldstreamers as a lasting memorial.

Former Guardsman Franco Gasparotti, who was severely injured in Northern Ireland, is behind the fundraising campaign.

He said the idea came about when 24-year-old Guardsman Anthony Wakefield was killed in Iraq in May.

The regiment set up a trust fund to benefit his three young children and donations poured in from veterans all over the world.

Now the Christian Hickey Foundation has been set up to help children of Coldstreamers who may be ill or have fallen on hard times. Mr Gasparotti said: "The deaths of both Anthony and Chris seem to have affected a lot of people, and not just those who knew and loved them.

"We've had donations from around the world and not just from Coldstreamers.

"Children have given up their pocket money to send to us, and we recently had a gold watch donated for auction from a sympathiser."

Sgt Hickey, 30, of East Bierley, joined up when he was just 17 and had been married to Gemma for two years.

His parents Patrick and Pauline Hickey live at East Bierley. Mrs Hickey said: "I think it's a good idea. Chris loved children, he and Gemma were hoping to start a family together."

The funeral of Sgt Hickey took place in Cleckheaton with full military honours.

The service at St Luke's Church was attended by hundreds of people, followed by a burial at Cleckheaton New Cemetery.

Further information can be found on www.coldstream ers.co.uk