THE family of a Nelson man killed in Australia have said they are no closer to discovering when his body will be returned to the UK.

Ex-soldier Scott Thompson, 27, died when a quad bike he was riding was hit by a truck in Bungador, Victoria, on Tuesday.

His girlfriend, Sami Allott, and travelling pal Ryan Monk formally identified his body on Thursday.

Mr Thompson’s mum, Lynne, said: “Hopefully it will be this week we can bring him home and then we can start preparing for his funeral. We have still only had one message from the Foreign Office so we’re relying on Sami and Ryan to keep us up to date.

“Ryan lives out there permanently but they are both planning to come back with Scott.”

Miss Allott, who had been dating Mr Thompson since 2011, posted a message on Facebook after she had identified his body.

She said: “I’ve been to see my beautiful boy and he is at peace with the angels. I gave him a goodnight kiss but hoped he’d sneakily wake up.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for their kind words! He really was one in a million and I have never and will never meet anyone so perfect as him.

“I would not have got through this without Ryan Monk. He’s been my rock and Scott will be so proud of him.

“Just rest assured he had the best last months of his life before it was cruelly taken.”

Mr Thompson, of Sansbury Crescent, Nelson, served in the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment from 2010 to 2013.

A statement from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment Association said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Kingsman Scott Thompson.”