A memorial service is being held this weekend for three teenagers who died in a car crash a year ago.

The service in St Mary the Virgin Church in Masham is being held for friends Aaron Bell, 18, from Jervaulx, Louis Banks, 17, and Tommy Shevels, 18, both from Healey, who died when the car they were travelling in crashed near Bedale on July 29 last year.

It starts at 3pm on July 30 and will finish at the Sheep Sculpture in the Market Place. The sculpture was auctioned by the Masham Sheep Fair Committee to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and it has been put in the Market Square as a permanent memorial for the three youngsters.

Darlington and Stockton Times: The Masham Sheep Sculpture dedicated to the three youngsters

Organisers of the service say it is a chance for the community to come together to remember the boys. They are asking people if they want to place flowers to lay them at the sheep sculpture rather than at the scene of the crash, which is on the narrow B6268 Bedale to Masham road, and to remove plastic wrapping.

Since the devastating tragedy the community has pulled together and a huge charity fundraising event was held at Wensleydale Rugby Club near Leyburn with their families. More than £40,000 was raised at the event, which was attended by over 1,000 people.

Organised with the help of Aaron’s friends at Bishop Burton College and Wensleydale Rugby Club, a special trophy from the college was presented in memory of the three youngsters.

Aaron’s mum Nicola Bell-Percy said the response had been astonishing, and thanked everyone for their support which helped raise the "staggering and overwhelming amount of money". A presentation was held, with cheques for £10,127 each given to representatives of the charities by members of the young men’s families and Wensleydale Rugby Club officials.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Cheques were presented by families to charities in memory of the three teenagers

The four charities to benefit were the Yorkshire Air Ambulance; Just B which provides bereavement support in North Yorkshire; road safety charity Brake and mental health charity Young Minds. A further £6,000 was raised through the bar which is being used to buy outside furniture for the club's new patio area.

North Yorkshire Police said their investigations into the collision are continuing. The teenagers were passengers in an Alfa Romeo 147 which was the only vehicle involved in the crash south of the Thornton Watlass crossroads on the B6268. The driver was treated in hospital for serious injuries.