A Bromley councillor has said it is "an honour to assist with the highly unusual request" of helping to repatriate a former Royal Navy sailor from New Zealand.

Philip Short, who was an engine room artificer apprentice, died in a vehicle accident when he was 20-year-old in 1958.

He was buried in St Mary Cray Cemetery and a blessing ceremony was recently held there before his casket is moved back home.

Between 1955 and 1971, personal from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) who died abroad were buried overseas unless their families could afford repatriation costs.

However, the NZDF has now started repatriating two of its Royal Navy sailors buried in England.

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher added: "The death of loved ones is always difficult, even after the years have passed, and although our St Mary Cray cemetery has been a peaceful resting place, our thoughts and best wishes are for the family of Philip Short as they will soon be able to remember him in a closer way as he is returned to his family.

"This is a timely reminder that this borough is the resting place of a number of Commonwealth and other countries service personnel who died on active service."

The casket of Philip Short will receive a traditional Maori welcome and will be carried by a guard of honour as it is handed back to his family.