A GROUP of young farmers are planning a charity tractor run in memory of their friend who took his own life last year.

Nathan Tomkins, from Earls Croome, near Malvern, died aged just 22 on Saturday, December 24, after suffering with depression.

To honour his memory – and raise cash for mental health charity, Mind – the Upton Young Farmers Club is set to hold a tractor run on Monday, May 1.

Ben Green, a member of the club, said: "We are raising money for Mind as we lost a fellow member of our young farmers club Nathan Tomkins tragically at Christmas.

"Upton Young Farmers have been completely devastated with this and we thought we had to give something back to Nathan."

Everyone is welcome along to watch the tractors set off from Hollybeds Farm in Upton, near Worcester.

The tractors will travel round Gloucestershire and Worcestershire before returning to the farm, where there will also be a barbecue, bar and raffle.

Mr Tomkins' family is helping with the event and has recently set up the Nathan Tomkins Trust to raise awareness of mental illness

Nathan's brother, Matt Tomkins, aged 29, said: "He knew everybody, whether you were one month old or 100 years old he knew how to make you happy. [He had a] big smile, he could make people laugh.

"He was fighting depression for a long time. He obviously thought he had no other way out."

Hanley Castle High School, where Mr Tomkins was a former student, held a Mental Health Awareness Week in his memory.

An inquest into Mr Tomkins' death will be held at Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport on Wednesday, May 10, at 10am.

For more information about Mind visit mind.org.uk