PREPARATIONS for the inquests of 30 Britons — including a University of Worcester student — who died in June's Tunisia terror attack, are set to begin.

Crown court judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, who has been appointed as coroner, is to hold a pre-inquest review hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London this week.

He will aim to give directions so that the official investigations into deaths of the UK victims of the mass killing in the Mediterranean resort town of Sousse can begin.

The bloody attack by gunman Seifeddine Rezgui claimed a total of 38 lives, with terror group Islamic State claiming responsibility.

Worcester student Joel Richards was shot alongside his uncle Adrian Evans, a manager at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands, and his grandfather Patrick Evans, 78.

Judge Loraine-Smith, who usually sits at Southwark Crown Court, was nominated to take on the role by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd after consultation with the Lord Chancellor, Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

Following the attacks in June, tributes poured in to Mr Richards, who was described as an "exceptionally talented footballer".

The football team he played for, James Connollys GFC, paid its tributes.

A club statement said: "Joel was an exceptionally talented footballer, who represented both club and county with conviction on numerous occasions. He will be sadly missed."

He started at the University in 2013 and was due to graduate next year.

He was also well known throughout the young referee circuit in the West Midlands, and was a fan of Walsall FC.

His friend, Reece Watters, also paid tribute, saying Mr Richards "helped everyone he ever come in contact with".

He said: "He never had anything bad to say about anybody, people would never argue with him because of how likeable Joel was. He helped everyone he ever come in contact with, even when it involved putting others before himself."