FRIENDS of tragic Black Country teenager Joel Richards who was killed along with his uncle and grandfather in the Tunisian beach terror attack have started a fund to help surviving family members.

Alex Shaw, from Amblecote, Stourbridge, says he's still in shock over the massacre which claimed the life of his friend and fellow football referee Joel, aged 19.

The 22-year-old retail worker told the News he and Joel had been friends for three years and he has been left feeling "numb" since hearing of the horror attack which left 38 people dead.

University of Worcester student Joel, from Wednesbury, was killed alongside his uncle Adrian Evans, aged 49, and grandfather Patrick Evans, aged 78, when gunman Seifeddine Rezgui brought terror to the holiday resort of Sousse last Friday (June 26).

To help Joel's devastated mum Suzanne and 16-year-old brother Owen, who survived the attack, friends have set up an online fundraising page and they have raised more than £5,500 in just four days.

Alex, a former Stourbridge College student, said: "Our initial target was £1,000 but within four-and-a-half hours we'd already raised £1,500. It's unreal. We've had donations from Premier League refs, the RAF and the Football Association and people across the world. It's taken off really well. We just want to keep it going and get as much money as possible."

He added: "We'll deliver it to Joel's mum to use for travel, funeral costs or anything."

Anyone wishing to make a donation can go to http://www.gofundme.com/Joelrichards