by Sue Briggs

A full military funeral was held in Deal on Wednesday for Sgt Robert Loughran-Dickson, 33, who was killed in Afghanistan last month.

At the service at St Leonard's Church on Wednesday, the serviceman's teenage son, also Robert, paid tribute to his father and described him as a "my daddy, my hero and our hero".

He shared memories of his father received from colleagues from 4th Regimental Royal Military Police who knew the sergeant as L-D.

They said they would remember his cheeky smile, his witty comments, his caring considerate nature and his selflessness.

Robert, who was born in 1992, told the funeral service he had millions of good memories of his father.

Sgt Loughran-Dickson's commanding officer Lt Col Debbie Poneskis told the packed church she was at the service on behalf of the regiment in this country and Helmand province in Afghanistan, where the sergeant was shot on November 18.

She said: "He was one of our finest sergeants and I am proud to have served alongside him and to have known him. He was popular and an extremely well respected figure.

"I could not have asked for a more reliable, committed and confident soldier. He was a gentleman and loved being in the military police. It is a massive understatement to say he will be missed by all."

The funeral was followed by a private burial at St Nicholas Church, Sholden.

Sgt Loughran-Dickson was born in Dover, went to Sholden Primary School and Deal Secondary School. He had been a member of the Deal ATC and played the bugle at Remembrance Sunday services.