Memorial ride for soldier son

John Turrington will tackle a 300-mile cycle ride in his son's memory

The father of the youngest British soldier killed in Iraq is to cycle to Paris to raise money in honour of his son.

Kelan Turrington, from Haslingfield in Cambridgeshire, was 18 when he died in fighting at Basra in April.

His father, John, is now planning to raise money in memory of his son by cycling 300 miles to the French capital.

The ride will also raise funds for the Royal British Legion and will finish on Sunday - almost five months to the day the teenager was killed.

Kelan, who served with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was killed as British forces made a major assault on Basra on 6 April. He was one of three soldiers to die in the fighting.

His father, who works at Basingbourn Barracks in Cambridgeshire, said he would use the memory of his son to spur him on to Paris.

Kelan Turrington was buried with full military honours

"My son was a casualty in Iraq and I am doing this ride in his memory, so when it gets a bit tough I will dig and remember my son," he said.

Fusilier Turrington was buried with full military honours at All Saint's Church in Haslingfield on 28 April.

But Mr Turrington said the memories of his son are still painful.

"I can remember him waiting for me by the gate for me to come out and take him to the gym with me.

"We would cycle back home and talk about life in general."

Kelan's family has also raised money for charities in Iraq by asking for donations rather than flowers at his funeral.