A MAN has paid tribute to his brother who was killed onboard the doomed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

British banker Andrew Hoare, who is originally from Somerset but lived in Luxembourg with his family, was one of 10 Britons to die when the airliner came down over the Ukraine.

His brother Hugo, from East Grinstead, described his sibling as a “devoted family man”.

He added that he had been planning to join the rest of the family for a 60th anniversary.

He said: “The best way to describe him is loyal. He's one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. His smile could light up a room. He was just a very lovely, family-orientated man.”

Mr Hoare, who was originally from Beckington near Frome in Somerset, moved to Luxembourg in the 1980s. He married his Dutch wife Estella in 1998 and had two children Jasper, 15, and Friso, 12.

All four died in the crash.

It is understood Mr Hoare also had a stepson, Rink Schoofs, 24, who was not on the flight.

A total of 298 people died when the plane came down near Hrabove on Thursday, July 17.