One of the last heroes of Spain dies aged 94

David Lomon, one of more than 2,500 volunteers from the British Isles who joined the International Brigades, died on Friday morning, aged 94, after being taken to hospital overnight.

Mr Lomon arrived in Spain in December 1937 at the age of 20 and was captured by Italian troops with other British volunteers the following spring during fighting in Aragon. He spent six months in the notorious prison camp of San Pedro de Cardenas near Burgos. He was repatriated in a prisoner-of-war exchange in October 1938.

In the past two years Mr Lomon attended several commemorative events in Britain and Spain. Last July he unveiled a new plaque beside the International Brigade memorial in London's Jubilee Gardens and in November he was the guest of honour in Madrid for the 76th anniversary of the battles to defend the city.

A friend said: "David Lomon was loved and admired by all who had the precious opportunity to meet him.

"He set a shining example of commitment, bravery and resolution to change the injustices he saw around him.

"In one of the last interviews he gave in Madrid, he declared that coming to fight Fascism in Spain was 'the best thing I have ever done in my life.' He shall be dearly missed."

People have paid tributes in Spain to Mr Lomon.

The International Brigades were made up of volunteers from 54 countries.

Mr Lomon's death leaves one British volunteer known to be alive Stan Hilton who is in a nursing home in Yarrawonga, Australia.