A BOY of 12 who accidentally hanged himself while "play acting" is to leave a lasting legacy at his secondary school.

Samuel Brennan - known as Sam - died in March after his mother, Jill, found him hanging from his bunk bed with the belt of his dressing gown tied around his neck .

Frantic resuscitation attempts by Mrs Brennan, Sam's father William, and his 17-year-old brother, Daniel, failed to save his life. He was pronounced dead at Maidstone Hospital shortly afterwards.

Friends and family have now raised more than £2,000 for various charities in his memory and plan to provide a music practice room at Holmesdale Technology College, Snodland, where the sports-mad youngster was a student.

It is also planned to place two benches, dedicated to Sam, at the school in Malling Road - one in the quadrangle and the other at the entrance to the Wolfe building.

The family, of Malling Road, Snodland, attended the inquest into Sam's death, held in Maidstone. Pathologist Dr David Rouse said that Sam would not have suffered. He added: "Children play acting may not appreciate the significance of what they were doing when tying the rope around their neck."

Maidstone and Mid Kent Coroner, Roger Sykes recorded a verdict of accidental death. He said: "I'm completely satisfied this was a tragic accident."

Sam, a former pupil at Snodland Primary School, Roberts Road, Snodland, was a member of Larkfield Swimming Club and played football for the Snodland Nomads, who are using some of the money raised in his memory to buy a trophy in his name.

Other donations will go to Demelza House children's hospice, near Sittingbourne, and a community home for young adults with learning difficulties in Brook Street, Snodland. The rest will be shared between the Snodland Nomads and Sam's schools.