A NEW bench has been installed in a prominent city spot in memory of a young soldier who took his own life.

Royal Artillery soldier Kurt Smith died aged just 25 at his barracks in Thorney Island, Portsmouth, in May 2017.

Now, his memory will live on in the spot where he played and fed the ducks as a child, with the new bench overlooking the Castle Pool in Hereford.

But far from just being a memorial, Kurt's family hope the intricately designed bench will help to highlight the issue of mental health difficulties within the forces.

Family members and former colleagues of the serving soldier gathered from as far as Harrogate and Thorney Island to see the bench officially unveiled on Saturday.

The ribbon was cut by former paratrooper and Herefordshire County Councillor, Jim Kenyon, who said that greater recognition of the mental health problems faced by current and former soldiers was vital.

"I know a lot of Kurts," Coun Kenyon said.

"There were 81 deaths from suicide last year, there have already been 24 so far this year. The numbers are shocking, and those are the ones we know about.

"There are likely more than that."

"When you feel ill, you just want to hide away, but Herefordshire can do better for our young men and women.

"People need to get away from the stigma that surrounds mental health problems in the armed forces and we need to raise awareness to help those who are suffering."

Kurt's mum, Trena Blake, said: "This shows that Kurt does still live on in the hearts of people who knew him.

"We hope the bench will highlight mental health in young men in particular, and even if we can save just one person, we will know we have done our best."