FAMILY and friends have clubbed together to help fulfil the dying wish of a popular young man.

Tom 'Lanky' Langford, 27, had planned to raise money for the hospital where he was treated for a rare form of cancer before his death last year.

Earlier this year, a charity dinner dance and auction of promises was held at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, in Tom's honour.

The event raised £10,600 for Ward 9 at Musgrove Park Hospital, where Tom was cared for during his brave fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma.

His parents, David and Jane Langford, have visited Musgrove to hand over a cheque to Bernard Reed, treasurer of the Musgrove Leukaemic Group Somerset, and NHS staff.

The money will go towards updating the bathrooms on Ward 9 as a way of thanking staff for their kindness to Tom.

Mr Langford said: "We were overwhelmed and grateful by the support of everyone who knew Tom and the family for their generosity at the event and by donations."

Tom, who was a member of Taunton Cricket Club for several years, died suddenly at his family home in Cheddon Fitzpaine on June 27 last year.

Tom, who was 6ft 4in tall, was born in the village and attended the former Beehive School, Queen's College, Richard Huish College and the former SCAT, all in Taunton.

He was a sales assistant at Dunelm and enjoyed sport, especially cricket, table tennis, skiing, ten pin bowling, skittles, croquet, walking and beating on shoots with his cocker spaniel Timmy.

He was passionate about the countryside and doing up an old tractor and plough to enter ploughing competitions, where he won first prize in his class at Bridgwater in 2016.

Following his death, Mrs Langford told the County Gazette that Tom had left the family with "some fabulous memories".

She said: "He was the most loving, caring person, generous to a fault and didn't have a bad word to say about anybody - he loved being in the company of people and entertaining them spending hours preparing quizzes and games for family parties and barbeques.

"He was taken into so many people's hearts and thought of so much by everyone he was involved with in his work, activities, village life and most importantly his family.

"He had a full, good quality life apart from his illness and tried to make the most of every day. During his illness the family took him out whenever he felt well enough and visited so many beautiful places within a two-hour drive of his home. He loved being driven around and always wanted to avoid motorways and busy roads - across Exmoor was his favourite ride.

"He loved his home, where he knew he was loved and cared for and spent hours gardening, growing lavender and cutting the grass endeavouring to get the perfect lawn."