FAMILY and friends have paid fitting tributes to a distinguished RAF serviceman during his final send off.

It was standing room only at the funeral of Sqn Ldr Andrew Shenton after officers and former Search and Rescue colleagues travelled hundreds of miles to be at York Crematorium.

The 45-year-old father-of-two died on April 19 after a long battle with brain cancer, but will be remembered as a "confidante and best friend" by his family and as a superb winchman during 26 years in the military.

Sparky Dunlop, an officer who first met Sqn Ldr Shenton when he commanded C Flight of 22 Squadron at RAF Valley in Anglesey, spoke about his friend's extreme bravery which led to him receiving the Air Force Cross.

Sqn Ldr Shenton was part of a Search and Rescue Team which helped a seriously injured sailor in the middle of the North Sea in December 2003.

The horrendous conditions were described by the vessel's captain as the worst he had seen in 27 years.

His friend said: "They are brave, resilient and highly capable men and women and Andy was one of the finest operators of this impressive trend.

"Just to be clear, that day was the kind of day you wouldn't wish to be out at sea at all.

"What you certainly didn't want to be doing was being winched down on to a boat that was moving around like a cork in a washing machine and try and rescue someone.

"However, he did that and saved yet another life.

"Over the years, Andy took part in hundreds of rescues and brought hope to people that had lost all hope.

"He not only saved the lives of the people he had been tasked to rescue, but changed for the better the lives of thousands of others who knew and loved those he plucked from danger. What an incredible feat."

The former Millthorpe School pupil's battle with cancer began in 2011 when he was the Officer Commanding 1564 Flight in the Falkland Islands.

He underwent operations to remove the brain tumours but doctors found other inoperable masses and he eventually left the RAF to work for Bristow Helicopters - the company operating Coastguard helicopters.

The company paid tribute to the decorated serviceman with a fly past over the crematorium at the end of the service.

Sqn Ldr Shenton is survived by his wife Lorraine, children Louis, nine, and Martha, seven, father, Roger, 73, and sister Helen, 49, and brother John, 48.