HEARTBROKEN family and friends of a Halesowen man killed in a suspected hit and run raised thousands of pounds through a charity boxing night held in his memory.

More than 400 people attended the event at the Station Hotel in Dudley, on Friday (October 13) which was organised by relatives of 31-year-old Benjamin Morse.

Mr Morse’s close friend Si Mcvoy underwent 12 weeks of intense training in his honour and was among the 10 boxers who took part.

More than £3,000 was raised on the night, some of which will go to the SAMM support group charity while some will go towards a bench to be placed in Halesowen in memory of Mr Morse.

His mum Gay Morse, who was at the event with her daughter Ruth, told Mr Mcvoy: “You did my son proud and in my eyes you were always the winner.”

Mrs Morse’s close friend Stephanie Pugh said: “Ben was dedicated to his football, his favourite team Arsenal and his boxing.

“We love him so much and keeping his memory and surrounding Gay and Ruth is keeping them strong - we stay strong as a family with them.

“Gay would like to thank Natalie Guest, Claire Blakey and Darren Mcdermott, who trained the boxers as he himself was a professional, for their time and the effort they dedicated to Ben.

“They were his very dear friends and have struggled with the loss.”

Mr Morse, who was a labourer, died after he was hit by a car in Cherry Street on May 1 this year.

Unemployed Nidal Alboraiki was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty when the trial started at Wolverhampton Crown Court earlier this week.

The 21-year-old, of Foxhunt Road, Halesowen, has further denied perverting the course of justice by seeking to dispose of his Vauxhall after the incident.