Tributes have been paid to a wartime hero who has died at the age of 86.

George Hollick was a veteran of the Dunkirk evacuation.

Friend and fellow Dunkirk veteran John Slinger, from Brighton, said: "He was a wonderful man and a true gentleman.

"He will be very much missed.

"He was deadly efficient all his life, probably as a result of being a sergeant major.

"He was very well respected and I am sure as many veterans as possible from Brighton will try to say their farewells to him."

In June, 1940, Mr Hollick was part of the British Expeditionary Force lifted off the beach at Dunkirk as the Germans advanced.

Three years ago, Mr Hollick was among the last survivors who made an emotional pilgrimage to the French town to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the evacuation.

More than 1,000 old soldiers and sailors, who were among the 338,226 troops rescued from the beaches, made their last official parade through Dunkirk.

It was a proud moment for wheelchair-bound Mr Hollick who got to shake the Prince of Wales' hand as he met with the ex-servicemen.

Mr Hollick, who lived in Patcham, worked tirelessly as branch secretary of the Brighton and District branch of the Dunkirk Veterans Association for more than 20 years.

His family has not yet released any funeral details.