Family and friends have been asked to donate to search and rescue charities in memory of teenager Ben Savage.

A funeral service for the 18-year-old has now been arranged following the formal identification of his body.

Ben was found in the River Medway, near the former civic centre in Strood, eight weeks after he disappeared on a night out.

Last week, as police confirmed the body was that of the teenager, his family thanked an officer who held on to him for almost an hour before rescue teams arrived.

Ben’s funeral will be held on Monday, March 13, at Strood Cemetery, Cuxton Road at 10am.

His parents, Tara and Martin, have requested family flowers only and instead suggested donations to RNLI and Kent Search and Rescue – some of the teams who were involved in the round-the-clock search for their son after he went missing.

They have also asked mourners to wear a dash of red or blue. Red was chosen because it was Ben's favourite colour and blue hearts have been used on the Find Ben Facebook page.

After the service, a celebration of his life will be held at The George Vaults in Rochester High Street.

Ben, of Sycamore Road, Strood, had been on a night out with a friend from work at the Tap N Tin in Chatham on Monday, December 5, when he disappeared.

The former pupil of Holmesdale School, Snodland, was last seen on CCTV at Sun Pier in Chatham, in the early hours of December 6, and was reported missing the same morning.

His body was found on Wednesday, February 1.

Last week, his family thanked all the rescue teams for their “empathy and tireless efforts” and paid special thanks to the passers-by who saw Ben in the river.

In a statement they said: “We, Ben’s family, would like to thank everyone for their support over these difficult and confusing couple of months.

“Thousands of people were touched by Ben’s story and their support went some way to comfort us all.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the public who spotted Ben and the policeman who held on to him for almost an hour until the rescue team were able to rescue him. You’ve given us some closure and we’re so very grateful.”

The inquest into Ben’s death was opened last Friday and will be resumed in April.