The family and friends of a man killed when his sports car crashed into a lamp-post have raised money to help a terminally-ill father.

Furniture salesman Paul Smith, 26, died instantly when his red Toyota MR2 crashed on the central reservation on the Kingsway, Hove, in October 1999.

Mr Smith, of Boundary Road, Hove, had been raising money for two boys with leukaemia after seeing an article about them in The Argus.

He never had a chance to give them the money but his family has continued his fund-raising work with annual commemorative football matches on the Sunday nearest May 1, Mr Smith's birthday.

This year, after reading about the Neil Cooper Appeal in The Argus, his family and friends decided any money raised from this year's match would be donated to the cause.

Neil Cooper, 33, from Portslade, has an untreatable form of cancer affecting his lungs and kidneys and his only chance of prolonging his life is a trial treatment not available on the NHS.

An appeal was launched by The Argus to raise money for chemotherapy so he can spend more time with his six-month-old daughter Caitlin and wife Wendy.

Each three-week course of treatment costs about £10,000 and the family are in urgent need of help.

Mr Smith's father Roger Smith, 57, of Summerdale Road, Hangleton, Hove, said: "We hold a charity football match every year in memory of our son. We often donate the money to The Argus Appeal or another good cause.

"I saw the article in The Argus about Neil Cooper and decided to give the money to him this year. It is quite sad as he is a young man of only 33 years of age with a beautiful young daughter.

"All that will be going through his head right now is that he has to leave that child behind. It must be tremendously hard for him."

Mr Smith's brother Craig Smith, 31, a property developer, of Hove Park Way, Hove, said: "It was a really good turnout. The score was 6-6 so we had a penalty shoot-out.

"Hopefully we will raise at least £500. It's a really worthwhile cause."

The match, the fifth Mr Smith's family have organised, kicked off at Portslade Sports Centre.

The teams then went on to The Hangleton Manor pub in Hove to continue fund-raising.

The Argus Appeal, which supports good causes across Sussex, started the Neil Cooper Appeal with a donation of £1,000 and more offers have flooded in.

There is no guarantee the treatment will work but there is a good chance it will prolong Mr Cooper's life by several months or possibly more.

It may also stabilise his condition until more medical treatments are developed in the future which may help him.

Mr Cooper's family just about managed to find the money for the first batch of treatment but the bill for the next is due this month.

Cheques made payable to The Argus can be sent to the Neil Cooper Appeal, Argus House, Crowhurst Road, Brighton BN1 8AR. People can also donate by credit card. To make a donation call Elsa Gillio on 01273 544465 or 07796 318402 or email elsa.gillio@theargus.co.uk .