A campaign has been launched to buy a new minibus for a school in memory of a pupil who died of Covid in November.

The foster family of young Ibby, 14, who went to The Beacon in Folkestone, hope to raise £35,000 to buy the new transport which will benefit current and future students at the special-needs school in Park Farm Road.

Foster dad Andy Neaves, who with wife Lea cared for Ibby in Greatstone, said: "We sadly lost our inspirational special-needs foster son to Covid in November after a long battle with illness last year.

"In his memory we have set up a JustGiving page with the intention of making this into a registered charity in the future to raise money to provide and run a wheelchair-accessible minibus for his school, The Beacon in Folkestone, as they have no money to replace or often even maintain its ageing fleet.

"The intention is to provide a bus that can be driven on a car licence yet still be large enough and adaptable to benefit the maximum number of pupils at the school.

"Also it would be available for community groups at weekends and during the holidays."

Ibby is described as having a "contagious smile and can-do attitude" and his foster dad says the plan is to organise a series of fundraising events to meet their target.

So far they have managed to raise almost £3,000 from donations via their ][JustGiving page online.

Mr Neaves, 52, said: "Our efforts started very well although we are stalling now and need to spread the word to keep momentum going."

The Beacon is an all-age school offering pupils three to 19 years, with complex needs, profound and severe learning difficulties and physical and sensory impairments, a wide range of educational experiences.