Tributes have been paid to a Helston man killed in a road accident during a family holiday in Spain.

Alan Pine, 58, who used to work as a security guard at RNAS Culdrose, was staying at a rented villa in the Murcia area with his wife, Liz, their children and grandchildren, when the tragedy happened.

Spanish police have told the family Mr Pine was struck by a car and killed instantly as he walked back to the villa in the dark on September 12.

Mr Pine's daughter, Hayley Blackwell, who lives in Milton Keynes, said the family was awaiting a full report from the police and did not know the exact details of what had happened.

She said: "He was down the road from the villa watching the England match with my two brothers and my husband and he decided to walk back early. All we know is that he was hit by a car and killed instantly."

Originally from Oldham in Lancashire, Mr Pine served in the Royal Navy for 22 years. After leaving the Navy, he worked as a guard at Culdrose before retiring due to ill-health.

Mrs Blackwell said her father - known to many by his old Navy nickname, "Sam" - loved most sports, particularly football and cricket, and was a "passionate" Man-chester United supporter. She added: "Before his ill-health he was definitely the life and soul of the party, but the last few years he had quietened down a bit and was living for his grandchildren."

Ray Pascoe, who worked with Mr Pine at Culdrose, described him as a "cracking guy" who was "always game for a laugh."

Mr Pine's funeral service took place at Penmount Crematorium, Truro, yesterday morning.

An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned by Cornwall coroner Dr Emma Carlyon.