A Suffolk airbase is working with the family of former RAF gunner Corrie McKeague to plan a memorial to honour him.

Mr McKeague, who was based at RAF Honington in west Suffolk, was 23 years old when he disappeared in the early hours of September 24, 2016 after a night out in Bury St Edmunds.

His mother, Nicola Urquhart, has met with senior officials at RAF Honington to discuss the memorial service.

Mrs Urquhart said it fills her with immense pride that her son will be having a memorial at RAF Honington.

She added: "Words can't actually describe the pride that Corrie had in joining the RAF and getting through his basic training and then carrying out the role.

"It is a family tradition, my father and his father were all in the service so he really was incredibly proud.

"To know that we can have a military funeral for him with that level of respect that really does mean the world to me, especially as I am so aware that he did die in active service but the RAF take the stance that he joined and he was prepared to so will we honour him in the same way."

Mrs Urquhart also spoke about the memorial being a place for Mr McKeague daughter, Ellie, to come and visit him.

She added: "She will be able to see things about her dad and have somewhere to visit and it has given this an ending when we have never been able to find him."

A jury inquest in March concluded that Mr McKeague died after he got into a bin which was tipped into a waste lorry.

The inquest, which lasted for two weeks, was earlier told that Mr McKeague, who was stationed at RAF Honington, had slept in a bin before.

Following the inquest the coroner at his inquest, Nigel Parsley, sent a report to four organisations to prevent any future deaths.

An RAF Honington spokesman said: "The thoughts of all of us at RAF Honington remain with Corrie’s family, friends and colleagues.

"We are working closely with Mrs Urquhart and the details of a memorial for Corrie will be confirmed in due course."

The RAF is also planning to create a memorial stone which will be laid at the National Memorial Arboretum, Ms Urquhart confirmed.

Details on the memorial have not yet been formalised.