FRIENDS of a respected Royal Artillery warrant officer who died in a motorbike accident are organising a charity cycle ride in his honour.

Dad-of-two Warren ‘Jacko’ Jackson, who was stationed at Poole’s marines base and saw action in Iraq and Afghanistan, died in a collision on the A31 in April.

Warren, who supported the work of Help for Heroes, was also a committee member of Wareham’s Sandmartins Activity Club.

He helped raise £2,000 for children’s equipment at the afterschool and holiday clubs.

Sandmartins manager Val Bowbanks said Warrant Officer Jackson had been a “great supporter” and was “highly valued” by everyone at the club.

She explained: “In honour of his efforts the committee has decided to arrange a sponsored cycle ride in his name to recognise his hard work and to leave a lasting legacy of this great man’s contribution to raising funds for a cause that was dear to his heart.”

Proceeds will be split between Help for Heroes and the after-school club.

The ride starts from Purbeck School, in Wareham, at 11am on Sunday, July 10, finishing on Wareham Quay.

For sponsorship forms, maps and route instructions, call Val Bowbanks at Sandmartins on 01929 551212.

l Earlier this week the Ministry of Defence named the latest two soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Martin Joseph, from 42 Commando Royal Marines, died in a gun battle on Sunday, while rifleman Martin Lamb, from 1st Battalion The Rifles, was killed by an IED on the same day.

These latest fatalities take the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since the military action began in 2001 to 371.