Hundreds of people are expected at the funeral of a former Kent teacher an ex-Royal Marine, whose body was found on an island in the Indian Ocean.

Carl Davies, 33, who used to teach at the Isle of Sheppey Academy and Sittingbourne Community College, died on November 9.

A post mortem revealed he had been beaten and stabbed in the stomach on the island of Reunion.

Mr Davies' body was flown back to the UK earlier this month.

His funeral will be held at the Garden of England crematorium in Sheppey Way, Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, this afternoon.

Carl's sister Kerrie Stewart said: "We want to give my brother the send off he so thoroughly deserves.

"We want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone for their support at what continues to be a horrendous time.

"We're devastated but we're bearing up."

Prior to his death, Mr Davies had been working as a security consultant on the ship Atlantic Trader, providing the vessel with protection against piracy.

It is believed he had been drinking with two friends in the town of Saint-Denis before leaving in search of a taxi back to the port some time before midnight.

His body was found the next day at the bottom of a ravine.

A murder hunt was launched after police on the island ruled out theft as a motive for any assault. Mr Davies still had his mobile phone and money on him.

Kerrie added: "It's every person's worst nightmare.

"No matter what time of year, Carl's death would have been difficult but it makes it that little more traumatic when his funeral is just 12 days before Christmas."