A CELEBRATION of the life of sports-loving Ed Kent, who died at the age of 13, takes place on Saturday.

The Lytchett Minster School pupil, who lived at Bere Regis, died on November 14 following an asthma attack.

A likeable and popular teenager, who had a smile permanently on his face, died peacefully in an ambulance on his way to hospital.

A service to celebrate the youngster's life is being held at the Church of St John the Baptist at Bere Regis on Saturday at 10.30am.

In the published funeral notice, those attending are asked not to wear black and are invited to don sports kit if they so wish.

Parents Paula and Andy and sister Becky have asked for donations to two charities instead of flowers. The family is supporting Asthma UK and the Three Ells Trust, the Dorset charity formed in 2000 by David and Helen Naerger after their 16-year-old son Lewis died from a primary brain tumour.

Ed's headteacher Andrew Mead has described him as "a genuinely lovely young chap". The sudden death of the “happy, friendly and polite young man” who was in Year 9 had been a great shock to the school community, which included his sister Becky, a pupil in Year 11.

Although a talented cricketer from a young age, who played for his school, district and village teams, Ed also went along to football practice. "Football wasn't his big thing. He went because he enjoyed it," said Mr Mead.

Paying tribute to him Mr Mead said: “The way he conducted himself on the sports field was always exemplary, he was not only highly talented but magnanimous and gracious."

He said: "He was a small, happy boy who was just good to be around."

In tribute to the popular youngster his school aims to establish a permanent cricket-themed memorial to the "true sportsman" whose loss is keenly felt.