A fundraising trust set up in memory of a teenager who died from a brain tumour has been given full charitable status.

The Smile of Arran, named after tragic Hedingham School boy Arran Tosh, will work with the Brain Tumour Charity and other organisations to hand out grants to families of children with tumours.

Arran, 13, died last June just five days after he was diagnosed.

Since then, parents Stephen, 48, and Alison, 45, and sisters Chloe, 21, and Abbie, 19, have collected thousands of pounds in donations.

Mrs Tosh said being an official charity meant fundraising boxes could be placed in shops and would provide further opportunities to raise cash and help others.

She said: “I never thought for one minute that we would make half as much money or get as much support as we have got.

“It’s coming on to a year since we lost Arran, so it does get overwhelming and we are still on our path of grief and coming to terms with the fact that he’s not here.

“We all came up with the idea that we wanted to keep Arran’s fundraising legacy going, but it was Steve’s idea to make it into a charity.

“We would never have been able to do it without him.”

Arran, a keen singer and guitarist, had already raised £600 for Cancer Research UK before his diagnosis.

After his death, hundreds of donors sent the total to more than £20,000.

The Smile of Arran Trust has a further £20,000.

Mrs Tosh said: “It could be that a child needs something to help them socially or at school, anything that’s needed.

“We will also help families as well. If their loved one does pass, like we lost Arran, if they haven’t got any money at all, we would consider helping them with funeral costs.”