To fulfil a dying wish, the remains of Tom Bell were carried by his wife Joanne all the way from Australia and scattered at Bourton-on-Dunsmore.

The parish council member became a popular person in the village after his family moved there in 1986.

And New Zealand born Tom, 65, was so taken by the area that he vowed to return after moving to Australia eight years ago.

Friend Chris Grinnell said: "Now he has come back to England but not in the way he thought."

A special service was held at St. Peter's Church on Saturday (May 10), where his ashes were scattered overlooking Draycote Water.

Tom died suddenly from a heart attack while gardening at his home in Sydney.

Chris added: "Tom was a go-getter and got things done. He was also a great patriot to this country.

"He was a bubbly character and a brilliant man."

Tom moved to Bourton-on-Dunsmore 22 years ago with his wife and son, Christopher, after spending time in the Far East.

He took a great interest in maintaining the older buildings in the village and planted a line of trees along the straight mile.

"Tom was proud to live in Bourton and wanted to make the place look nice," said Chris.

"The line of trees was his way of leaving his mark on the village."

Tom also took a major part in the battle to stop an airport being built in Rugby's countryside near Bourton-on-Dunsmore.

Around the same time of Tom's death, another well-known villager, farmer Ernie Gethin, also passed away and was buried in the same churchyard. The two men were good friends and Chris said it was fitting that the two were side by side again.