A BLACK tie dinner is being held to mark the second anniversary of the death of a military policeman.

Lance Corporal Ben Hyde, 23, from Northallerton, was one of six red caps who were killed in an ambush on a police station in Iraq on June 24, 2003.

His parents, John and Sandra Hyde, have set up the L Cpl Ben Hyde Memorial Trust to raise money for the Royal Military Police (RMP) central benevolent fund and other good causes.

The trust has now organised a formal dinner at the Hambleton Forum, North-allerton, on June 24 to commemorate the second anniversary of his death.

Richmond MP and former Tory party leader, William Hague will be the guest speaker, and the dinner will be followed by a raffle and disco.

Mr Hyde said: "There are quite a lot of Ben's friends coming and various people who served with him in Iraq, so it is an opportunity to come along and meet some of Ben's friends and the people he served with."

Tickets cost £30 and are available from Northallerton Town Hall office on (01609) 776718 or Mr and Mrs Hyde on (01609) 780980.

The proceeds will be divided between the RMP benevolent fund and ward four at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton.