STUDENTS at Totton College are planning a memorial service for 18-year-old Michael Evans, who died at the weekend trying to climb a Swiss mountain.

College principal Mark Bramwell said Michael's friends had already been to see him to arrange a tribute through the Student Union.

"The people closest to Michael were obviously shocked at first and are now very sad and upset. They were talking along the lines of a commemorative tree or bench but it's yet to be decided," he said. "At the moment I think the family just need a bit more time to think if they would welcome anything or what it might be."

Mr Bramwell also said some A-level pupils had been to see the student welfare officer following Michael's tragic death.

The young man's body was discovered on Sunday at the foot of a Mutthorn mountain, poorly equipped with training shoes and only a thin jacket.

It is thought he slipped and fell after embarking on a solo hiking trip up the Swiss Alpine peak on Friday afternoon.

Michael's parents have begun to arrange the funeral, but it is not known when this will take place or when his body will be flown home.

Mr Bramwell said students had been invited by Mrs Evans to attend the service.

He added: "It's likely we will have a collection for charity and for flowers. An accident like this is always very upsetting but for a young man like Michael, who was just completing his A-levels with everything in front of him, it is a particular loss.

"We had been discussing his applying to university, but he was hoping to take a year out first.

"We anticipated he would do quite well in his studies."

Michael was due to sit A-level exams in English literature, business studies, French and general studies.