Hundreds are expected to attend the benefit dance on Friday at Corby Rugby Club, in honour of the builder from Weldon, who died on September 7 after his motorised boat capsized while he was on Loch Watten in Caithness on the last day of a week-long fishing holiday.

The dance will be followed by the first ever Steven Storey memorial shield on Sunday which will see the Corby Rugby Club veterans take on their Kettering counterparts.

His widow Christine, 48, said: "We wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the support they have given us during this difficult time."

His daughter Karley, 22, said: "My dad was such a popular man and we are expecting lots of people as there has been a lot of interest in the benefit dance."

The proceeds from the events will be split between the Caithness rescue services – which helped during the search for Mr Storey's body – and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

Hundreds turned out to Mr Storey's funeral last month. Friends also paid tribute to the former Corby Town Rugby Club player on the Evening Telegraph website.

Tickets for the dance, which starts at 7.30pm, can by brought from the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Weldon or the rugby club in Rockingham Road.