A screening scheme to detect heart conditions in athletes will be launched today, following the sudden death of a talented young footballer.

Tonbridge Angels FC will start assessing players between the ages of 14 and 35 as a response to the death of trialist Junior Dian in a pre-season friendly.

The 24-year-old collapsed during a match against Whyteleafe FC at their Surrey ground in July. He had been on the pitch for just 20 minutes. The game was abandoned.

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Despite the best efforts of doctors, Mr Dian died the following morning.

His younger brother Prince Dian-Tomba spoke of his shock at the death of such an apparently heathy young man.

Club chairman Steve Churcher aid he had learned 12 apparently fit young people die suddenly of undetected cardiac conditions in the UK every week, but in Italy, where heart screening is mandatory, this figure is reduced by 89%.

It was not the first time the club had been struck by tragedy, with 17-year-old player Jack Maddams dying of an undetected heart condition in his sleep in 2008.

Tonbridge Angels, with other clubs and sporting bodies, raised £21,000 through the Football Fightback campaign to kick- start the programme.

The screenings, with the help of charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), cost £35 each and will eventually carried out on sports teams across the region.