A FUNDRAISING page set up in memory of a Dudley teenager who died after being rescued from the sea has smashed its £5,000 target in two days.

The page was initially set up to help pay for Blake Ward's funeral but according to an update on the Gofundme page, that cost has now been met.

The 16-year-old, who had just left Hillcrest School and Community College in Netherton after sitting his GCSEs, got into difficulty in the water in Tywyn in Wales on Tuesday afternoon (July 31).

He was rescued by Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers and members of the public before being airlifted to Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

But sadly, the difficult decision to turn off his life support machine was made on Saturday morning (August 4).

Within 48 hours of the Gofundme page being set up, family, friends and strangers touched by the tragedy, have donated more than £5,600 to help with funeral costs.

However the page has now been updated to say that the cash will now be spent on the wake and funeral tops for his close family and friends.

Any left over cash be donated towards sea search and rescue and air ambulance charities.

To help boost funds further, Blake's former classmates are hosting a charity football match in his honour tonight (Tuesday).

The event will be held on the field on Newbury Lane, Oldbury - near the Portway Lifestyle Centre - at 6pm.

‎In addition to the matches, a raffle and tombola will also take place and anyone who can donate prizes is asked to drop them off at the Simms Lane school's reception by 3pm.