The funeral has taken place of Korean War veteran Frederick John Darwent.

He died on November 17 after a short battle with lung cancer aged 84.

His funeral service took place at a packed Heart of England Crematorium in Nuneaton on Friday as family, friends, former comrades and servicemen and women paid their respects.

After a short period in the mining industry Mr Darwent joined the Navy as a gunner when he was 18 and served aboard HMS Ceylon during the conflict from 1950 to 1953.

The Last Post was played and 10 banners raised in honour of a man who was a standard bearer himself at many funerals over the past decade.

He will be known to many for his work after his service days running Burbage Damproofing while he also worked in the hosiery trade.

Mr Darwent was born in Stanton-under-Bardon and is survived by son Graham and daughters Allison Lanham and Jenny Morse, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. His wife Irene died 16 years ago.

A floral tribute was sent by the South Korean Embassy and a letter of gratitude read out thanking him for his service.

Son Graham said: “Dad returned to Korea in 2000 for anniversary celebrations and they treated him like a hero. He went back there again just two years ago.

“During the war with North Korea he was responsible for a train which used to come out of a tunnel and fire at ships out at sea before disappearing again.

“It was his job to bomb them back.”

Mr Darwent spent 12 years in the Navy mostly based in Portsmouth and was well known around Hinckley.