THOUSANDS of pounds was raised for military charities at a memorial night marking the fifth anniversary of a North-East soldier’s death in Afghanistan.

Pte Dean Hutchinson lost his life in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2011, along with Pte Robert Wood, when a fire engulfed his tent at Camp Bastion.

Friends and family of the 23-year-old, from Spennymoor, County Durham, held a charity night to celebrate his life and to raise money for charities that have supported them since the tragedy.

Mrs Hutchinson said: “We had a first year memorial and Paul has done some fundraising like the Great North run and C2C bike ride, it felt right this year to do another memorial night and support two really good charities.”

They made £2,290 on the night which was topped up with £2,000 by Barclays which will be shared between The Royal British Legion and ABF The Soldiers Charity.

Parents Elaine and Paul, 48 and 50, and brother Liam, 23, were keen to make the event a celebration of Pte Hutchinson’s life.

The event was held on February 13- five years after he last spoke to his family back home and hours before the fifth anniversary of his death.

Mrs Hutchinson said: “That was the date of the last time I spoke to him, it was very emotional but at the same time a celebration of his life so a nice night.

“Dean would have been the life and soul of the party so he’d have loved it.”

Friends, family, civic dignitaries and veterans attended the night which included a charity auction.

One of the lots was the right to name an Eddie Stobart truck which Lance Corporal Philip Proctor, a friend and comrade of Pte Hutchinson’s won.

He has decided to name the lorry Deana Sarah in tribute to the late soldier and his sister, who was stillborn.

“That was lovely, Phil and Dean were good mates and it he was determined to buy that lot in memory of the two children we lost,” said Mrs Hutchinson.

The Hutchinson family want to thank supporters particularly Pte Joshua Pugh, who is based at Catterick Garrison and was a close friend of Pte Hutchinson’s, Liam’s girlfriend Claire and friend Laura Goldsmith for helping with the fundraiser.