A patrol base in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, has been renamed after a military policeman, a former Deal schoolboy, who died in the area in November.

Sgt Robert Loughran-Dickson, 33, was shot while on patrol and given a full military funeral at St Leonard's Church, Upper Deal, followed by burial at St Nicholas Church, Sholden.

His mother, Win Baker, from Deal, and her family have spoken about the gesture, which was organised by the Army and the Afghan National Police.

They have renamed a patrol base in Helmand Province after Sgt Loughran-Dickson, who died protecting the Afghans he was mentoring in the area.

Mrs Baker said: "The whole family is proud that Robert's friends in the Royal Military Police have done this for him in Afghanistan.

"We are touched that so many people were influenced by his short life."

Her son, who was known as LD, was based in Aldershot, Hampshire, and died on November 18 in an exchange of fire with insurgents.

Staff Sgt Holly Turner worked with Sgt Loughran-Dickson when she was based in Aldershot with 160 Provost Company.

She said: "Now his Royal Military Police colleagues, who have followed in his footsteps and are advising the Afghan National Police in Helmand, have put up a plaque to commemorate his sacrifice, and renamed the compound where he was working in the Bolan District as Check Point L-D.

"He was embedded with the infantry and he set off from here with members of the Afghan National Police on a patrol on the day that he died. He was a great guy."

For full story see the East Kent Mercury