Tributes have been paid to a promising fighter pilot from Eastbourne who was killed in a motorcycle accident.

The family of Luke Lockyer, 24, told how his love for challenges led him to embark on a high-flying career in the RAF.

The trainee pilot died on Wednesday after his motorbike was involved in a collision with a Nissan car in West Yorkshire.

His parents, David and Stella Lockyer, of Denton Road, Eastbourne, say their son was a charming man with a love for sport.

Mrs Lockyer said: "He would have finished his training in October and wanted to be a jet fighter pilot.

"His officers have told us he was well on course for that. He would definitely have made it.

"He was the sort of boy who, if he had a challenge, he would live up to it."

Mr Lockyer described his son as a competitive sportsman who always tried his hardest in competitions and hated to let his team down.

Luke was a well-known character in his cricket club, based at The Saffrons, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne.

He went to Cavendish Senior School, Eldon Road, and Park College, Kings Drive, and was a keen biker.

It was his love for speed which led him to motorbikes and a career in the RAF, after a university course in Bristol.

At university he met girlfriend Clara Howard.

She said: "Luke was fun-loving, sporty, charming and always prided himself on getting on with everyone.

"If I took him to meet people he didn't know he would always get on with them."

Luke was inspired to join the RAF through a friend and signed up in May last year.

By November, he had received certificates for the most outstanding cadet in physical education and all-round merits as a trainee.

Mr Lockyer, cricket manager at The Saffrons, said Luke had taken his duties at the RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse very seriously and pushed himself to be the best.

He said: "He would go to the gym and stay there until he was completely exhausted. He always wanted to do better the next time."

Sunday's cricket match was dedicated to Luke, as was the Tucano pilot's fly past at the Airbourne festival last weekend.

A full military service for Luke will be held at St Mary's Church, Old Town, next week, followed by a private cremation.

Mrs Lockyer, who has another son Adam, 22, said the family expected more than 300 people to attend a celebration of Luke's life at The Saffrons after the cremation.