Medal bid for parents of fallen

Damian Davies was killed along with two colleagues

The mother of a marine who died in Afghanistan has started a campaign for the parents of service personnel killed in conflict to be recognised.

Damian Davies, 27, from Telford in Shropshire, and two colleagues were killed by a suspected teenage suicide bomber last December.

His mother, Maddison, is calling for a "Parent medal" to recognise their loss.

She has started a petition on the Number 10 website which has attracted more than 500 signatures.

At the time of his death, Mr Davies' widow, Joanne, said he was "the most wonderful caring husband and daddy we could have ever wished for".

She is backing her mother-in-law's campaign and told BBC News that recognition of their loss was important.

"There's a quite a feeling out there that parents should also be recognised and receive something similar from the government, from the military to show they have also paid the ultimate price," she said.

"There is nothing worse than losing a son or a daughter.

"This is just a little step to show that they have also lost a huge part of their lives."

Mr Davies, who served with the Commando Logistics Regiment based at RMB Chivenor in north Devon, was killed while on a tour of duty in Helmand province.