A SPECIAL service was held at Portchester School in Bournemouth on Monday in memory of popular pupil Kyle Rees.

The hour-long private service for students and staff from both Portchester and Avonbourne schools took place in the sports hall.

The school had requested that no flowers be taken to the service and gave pupils the option of wearing dark clothing.

A Kyle Rees Memorial Fund has been set up to buy a memorial bench, tree and cup dedicated to inter-house football competitions.

A contribution will also be made to the trauma unit at Southampton General Hospital where Kyle, 16, from Nortoft Road, was treated after he was hit on the side of the head by an indoor practice cricket ball on February 27.

The incident was later described as a tragic accident.

Executive headteacher Debbie Godfrey-Phaure said the memorial service was a time to celebrate Kyle’s life and “enable healing and reflection for our students in the Portchester and Avonbourne community”.