A POPULAR trainee ambulance technician killed in a road accident a year ago has been fondly remembered by family, friends and former colleagues.

Neil Hughes, from Darlington, died at the scene of the accident, after his motorcycle collided with a car while he was out riding with workmates near Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Proceeds from the collection at his well-attended funeral were divided between a chosen family charity, St John Ambulance in the Darlington and Northallerton areas, and the North-East Ambulance Service, with whom Neil was a six-month probationer at the time of his death.

The money was used to develop a memorial garden and patio in memory of Neil, at the ambulance station in Gilesgate, Durham, where the 28-year-old former soldier made such a favourable impression in his short stint based on site.

Other ambulance staff at the station developed the garden, on what was an area of waste land, with the backing of Poplar Tree Nurseries in Shincliffe, near Durham.

Although a simple layout, it offers ex-colleagues a chance for quiet contemplation, featuring two benches, two seats - one marked with a comemorative plaque - and a patio table.

Neil's widow, Fiona, performed the opening at a ceremony attended by relations, members of staff at the station and other trainees.

Among those former workmates was paramedic Kevin Wadge, who said: "Neil was here from when he started and was very well liked, very pleasant and helpful and he thoroughly enjoyed the job.

"I think he would have gone on to have done a paramedic course and been very good at the job."

Hereford-born Neil, as a former member of the Tank Corps, earned the nicknames Tank and Rommel, and despite the short period on site became the station prankster.