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.

Pals in Netherton and Sedgley have been left in shock over the massacre which claimed the life of football referee Joel, aged 19, from Wednesbury.

University of Worcester student Joel, who refereed at matches around the borough, who 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) and left 38 people dead.

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 Shaw, aged 22, from Stourbridge, 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