A statue of Battle of Britain pilot Mahinder Singh Pujji was unveiled in Gravesend today as the town pays tribute to volunteer servicemen from overseas.

More than a hundred people attended a ceremony this morning to see the £70,000 artwork for the first time.

Mr Pujji was chosen to represent servicemen who volunteered to fight for Britain in military campaigns from 1914 to 2014.

The Indian fighter pilot joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 serving in the Battle of Britain and later Burma and the Middle East.

His bravery earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In September 2010, he died in Gravesend aged 92 after suffering a stroke.

His son Satinder, 62, described the statue unveiling as a proud day for the family.

He said: "We have relatives from across the world here today from Australia, America and India.

"My father loved living in Gravesend and he loved this country. In a letter to my grandfather he said he wanted his ashes buried here. It was his home."

Gravesham council leader John Burden (Lab) added: "This is a great day for the borough following a lot of hard work from the community.

"This is a small token of our appreciation to all those who volunteered from overseas."

The statue was created by sculptor Douglas Jennings who began his career chiselling celebrities at Madame Tussauds.