A POLICEMAN killed in a road accident is to be honoured -- at the Bolton youth club he loved.

Wally's Youth Club in Endercot Road, Deane, is to stage an annual football match in Sgt Mick Bradford's name using donations from his funeral.

Sgt Bradford, aged 44, a community area officer based at Middle Hulton Police Station, died in June when his high-powered motorbike was involved in an accident with a car on Lancashire's Kirkham bypass.

His family, wife Joanne and daughters Nikola and Ericka, asked for donations to be given to the youth club.

The policeman, once commended for restraining a man armed with a knife, had begun to forge a partnership with youngsters in the area through the youth club.

He had arranged a friendly football match between the police force and an open-age football team from the youth club as part of the club's annual fun day. Tragically he died just days before the game was due to be held.

Now youth club owners, Dave and Dawn Wallbank, have decided that the £1,400 donated should be used to buy a trophy. Dawn said that with the family's permission, it will be called the Mick Bradford Memorial Trophy and competed for in the same fun day the officer missed.

Dawn told The BEN: "It is a thank-you to everyone who donated money and a way of remembering Mick.

"We wish he could be here as he wanted the youth club to grow to keep youngsters happy and off the streets. I think he would have liked the idea of an annual football match.

"He was a Mr Nice Guy and everyone at the club was devastated when he died."

And Dave added: "We are also going to use some of the money to send some of the youngsters on day trips."

Donations were also asked to be given to help improve the lives of residents on Bolton's troubled Paulhan Street Estate.

Sgt Bradford, an officer for 23 years, had also been heavily involved in helping secure cash aid for Great Lever and he died days before the Government announced a £2.6 million injection to help improve life for residents living there.