A MEMORIAL to a much-loved police officer who was killed in a car crash has been unveiled.

Friends, family and colleagues of PC Jonny Green gathered at Barnard Castle Police Station yesterday for the unveiling of a garden seat in his memory.

PC Green, 23, died in November when his car collided with a tree on the A67 just outside of Barnard Castle.

He was returning from work at Barnard Castle police station to his home in Brinkburn Road, Darlington.

Colleagues clubbed together and raised £350 to buy the garden bench in his memory.

Sergeant Bob Danby, from Barnard Castle police, said: "Not only was Jonny big in stature, he was also big-hearted.

"He probably fitted more living in his short lifetime than most people fit in two lifetimes."

The seat was made by Teesdale Garden Crafts, which is a workers co-operative for adults with learning disabilities.

It has been engraved with PC Green's name and will be placed outside Barnard Castle police station.

A plaque with a photograph of PC Green has also been produced, which will hang inside the police station.

Chief Inspector Dave Orford, the south Durham response manager, said: "Once you pull on the police uniform you are all part of one big family.

"Although sometimes we leave for various reasons we probably never truly take it off.

"This will be a reminder of that for years to come."

PC Green's mother, Lynn, said: "We're so grateful that everybody has been to so much effort.

"They've been so nice to us, they sent a lovely bunch of flowers on his birthday the other week.

"It means so much to us and it's nice to know they're still thinking of Jonny."

Seven officers are also taking part in the Great North Run in memory of PC Green and the money they raise will be donated to the Make a Wish Foundation.

PC Victoria Barnett, who helped to organise the tributes, said: "We've all had T-shirts made with Jonny's photograph on them, which the Great North runners will wear.

"There are 400 wishes in the region, which the charity wants to grant, and so this will be a worthwhile cause to be raising money in his memory for."