Friends of a Henstead man who died when his car became submerged in a canal have raised hundreds of pounds in his memory to help children with life-threatening illnesses.

Charles Watson, who was known as Sam, disappeared from a stag night in Great Yarmouth on April 9.

The 25-year-old's body was found submerged in his car in the New Cut waterway between the rivers Yare and Waveney in St Olaves, near Great Yarmouth on April 13.

An inquest heard he may have driven into the canal without realising it was there. The alcohol level in his body was almost three times the legal drink-drive limit.

Remembering their friend, a group of his peers from Woodbridge School gathered to celebrate his memory, raising money for the East Anglia's Children's Hospice (EACH) Treehouse centre in Ipswich.

The group watched Woodbridge rugby team take on Framlingham – the sport was one of Mr Watson's hobbies – before toasting him and sharing memories at the Angel pub in Woodbridge.

Close friend Alan Cowie said they raised a total of �415 for the charity as well as planting a tree in his honour.

'Sam loved children and so it seems very fitting that the money should go there,' he said.

'Thank you to everyone who came and for the huge generosity shown.'