A tug display on the Thames paid tribute to a dad-of-two who was praised by Prince William for helping to make the river safer.

Mark Towens, who was a harbour master for the Port of London Authority, died on New Year's Day, aged 40, after a long battle with cancer.

His funeral took place on Thursday and was followed by a tug boat tribute with water cannons on the river at Gravesend, near Town Pier.

Mark, from Gravesend, led a campaign to reduce drownings on the Thames and was supported by the Duke of Cambridge, who he met in 2019.

After being told his cancer had spread to his brain, Mark's family organised a fundraising campaign for treatment abroad, raising more than £100,000.

After battling lockdowns and Covid travel restrictions, Mark was finally able to fly to Israel in April 2021 but the treatment wasn't the cure he had hoped for.

It did give him more time with his wife Claire, son Jamie, 13, and daughter Katie, 10.

His sister Jo said one of Mark's last wishes was for his ashes to be scattered on the Thames.

Mark was appointed harbour master in 2014.

Jo, 42, said: "He said he felt incredibly privileged and lucky to have such a role.

"He was most proud of the work he did to produce the drowning prevention strategy – he said it was his legacy."

She added: "Mark was smart, fun, adventurous, competitive, he had a great sense of humour and a zest for life that was infectious.

"His family was so important to him, nothing was more important to him than the time he spent with his family."