FAMILY and friends of a military policeman killed in Iraq joined staff and students at his former college yesterday to dedicate a plaque in his memory.

Lance Corporal Ben Hyde, 23, was killed with five other military policemen in June at an Iraqi police station, where they were training local officers.

His parents, John and Sandra Hyde, were at Northallerton College, in North Yorkshire, yesterday for the dedication ceremony, which also featured the presentation of two new sports trophies bearing his name.

Four students who had shown outstanding "commitment and enthusiasm in sport" in the past year shared the awards.

The plaque will now be put up in the college alongside memorials to former students killed in the First and Second World Wars.

In September, a public seat with an inscribed brass plaque was dedicated in the cemetery not far from the grave where he was buried with full military honours.

Mr Hyde said: "I feel quite touched to think that so many people thought enough about Ben to do what they have done.

"What came out from the ceremony was the way that Ben was, and I think the military people here who knew Ben really saw a different side to him.

"Ben would have been proud to think that the college would do so much to honour him."

Principal Jennifer Slater said: "After the large military and civic ceremonies that took place earlier this year, this was an opportunity for those who knew Ben at the college to remember him on a personal level."

Mr Hyde is planning to put a memorial to all six military policemen next to the seat dedicated to his son in Northallerton's cemetery.

He is also writing a book about L Cpl Hyde's time in Iraq and is travelling to his regiment's base in Colchester this weekend to speak to those who served with him.

"There are an awful lot of anecdotes and stories," said Mr Hyde. "And some of them are quite funny."