An appeal has been launched for mourners to attend the funeral of a 90-year-old Royal Marines veteran from Newtown.

David McLaren Kerr, of Plas Cae Crwn Residential Home, died at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on September 7 with no surviving close relatives.

His funeral will be held at Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, October 16, at 1.15pm and only a handful of people are expected to attend.

Mr McLaren Kerr was married to the late Nancy and survived his only child, Maryanne, who died in 2013.

Fellow veterans have launched a campaign on social media for more people to attend Mr McLaren Kerr’s funeral and celebrate his life.

Richard Parkes of Leach & Son Funeral Directors who has arranged Mr McLaren Kerr's funeral said he was a "very nice gentleman who was very proud of his military service".

He said: "We were under the impression that one or two people will be at the service because he had no near family or next of kin.

"We contacted the local Royal British Legion because of his military career and I think five or six people are now going from the Newtown area.

"It's nice to know that some military people will be there for his final journey. He would have been very proud.

"He believed in the family of the military."