THE former employers of a teenager who died from adult cot death have raised more than £9,000 for charity in his memory.

Colin Hankin, from Woolston, was found dead in his bed by his mum, Angela Morris, two days after his 18th birthday in 2000.

A healthy, sports-mad youngster, Colin had only ever visited his doctor three times, twice for a cold and a third time complaining of chest pains.

But, soon after his death, the mystery illness was identified as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), a form of arrhythmia, where the heart beats too quickly, slowly or irregularly.

Since his death, his employers, Claremont Group Interiors, have raised more than £9,000 for the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation in memory of Colin, who worked as an apprentice in the accounts department.

Ann Malone, associate director, said: "Colin was a nice lad who everyone got on with. His death was a shock for us all.

"We all wanted to keep Colin's memory alive and after discussions with his mum, we began raising money to provide local GPs with heart monitors to enable them to screen young people for heart conditions which they are unaware that they may have."

Through fundraising activities employees have raised more than £4,000 and chief executive, Mike Gardner, matched the amount.

Angela Morris said: "The way everyone came to talk to me about Colin felt as if it was only yesterday that I lost him. They all speak about him with such vivid memories, and knowing they all keep Colin in their thoughts is wonderful."

Claremont's associate directors also set up the Colin Hankin Award', which is given to New Team Player' and was this year awarded to Gillian Millar.