FRIENDS and comrades of  fallen soldier and police community police officer Mark Marshall are planning a number of  memorials in his name.

The funeral of the 29-year-old  serviceman, who also worked as  a PCSO in the Countess Wear  area of Exeter, was held in the  city last week. Hundreds of  mourners attended the military  service at Belmont Chapel, in  Western Way.

Police officers who worked  closely with Mark have already  put up a plaque at Heavitree  Road police station,.

Neighbourhood Inspector for  Exeter Brent Davison said: “His  family has shown incredible  strength, dignity and warmth  throughout this tragic time and  they like us would like Mark  and his good work to be remembered.

“We have a plaque at Heavitree Road in Mark’s name and  of course will have a plaque at  the memorial garden at police  headquarters at Middlemoor.

“The local community in consultation with the family are  planning a bench in Mark’s  name at King George V playing  fields and also a plaque at the  Countess Wear shops where  Mark worked so hard on helping to redevelop the area.”

Rifleman Marshall, of 6th Battalion The Rifles, based at  Wyvern Barracks, in Exeter,  was killed last month when an  improvised explosive device  detonated while he was on a  routine foot patrol in Helmand  Province, Afghanistan.

His mum Lynn will present  the Mark Marshall Cup, previously called the Community  Youth award, at the Devon Policing Awards at Middlemoor, on  Tuesday.

Insp Davison said: “This was  an idea that came from our staff  who wanted to ensure that  Mark’s name would continue to  be associated with young people  and the good they do.

“The family is  also in the process of setting up a trust account  in Mark’s name to help youth  initiatives in the area.

“His relatives have asked me  to say thank you to everybody  who attended his funeral and  also the hundreds who lined the  route to the crematorium. They  felt immensely proud.”