A DEVASTATED father is moving to Spain in a bid to ease the pain of the death of his 20-year-old son.

Darryl Smith, who runs a tennis club in Corfe Mullen, will move to the Costa Blanca with his wife, Penny, and step-daughter Alex, 13, next week.

Ben Smith died on New Year's Eve last year when his car left the M27 and hit a tree as he travelled to work in Southampton.

Since then Mr Smith and Ben's mother, Tracy, who lives in Poole, have struggled to come to terms with their loss.

Mr Smith said he decided to make a fresh start following Ben's death.

"We had originally planned to go to Spain as a bigger family unit. After Ben's death I lost all enthusiasm for tennis coaching. I will carry on with my business of racquet-stringing in Spain."

He also decided to embark on a fundraising event before leaving the country, which raised £1,500 for Julia's House, a children's hospice.

"Ben was only 20 so I knew I wanted to do something for a children's charity" said Mr Smith. "We are very grateful to everyone who helped the cause."

Mr Smith, along with four of his tennis club assistants - Craig Moore, Chris Hardy, Oliver Meldrum and Tom Austin - climbed Ben Nevis in memory of Ben and to raise the cash for the charity.

The travelling costs were funded by the Wild Thing attraction at the Alice in Wonderland Park and the £1,500 came by way of donations, sponsorship and mufti days at Canford Heath First School and Henbury View First School.

Despite the closure of the Darryl Smith Tennis Club, a new club is being set up by coach Steve Thomas. Details are available at the Corfe Mullen recreation ground.

Anyone who wishes to keep in touch with Darryl can do so via darryl smithtennis@yahoo.co.uk.

First published: September 3, 2005