The family of a backpacker killed in an Australian hostel inferno says the conviction of the loner who started the blaze brings them no comfort.

Fruit picker Robert Long, 38, today faces life imprisonment after being found guilty of starting the huge fire which incinerated a hostel, killing 15 backpackers.

Among seven Britons killed was Adam Rowland, 19, of Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards.

Last night his uncle Pete Todd said no length of imprisonment would atone for Adam's death.

He said: "This is no comfort to us at all. No justice can be properly served as no amount of sentencing of this man will ever bring Adam back.

"It has been terribly hard for all the family.

"He was such a funny guy, with so much going for him. It's terrible that it ended like this."

Adam was a former pupil at the 1,300-pupil mixed-sex Grove School in Darwell Close, St Leonards, where he excelled in sport.

Following his GCSEs at 16, he left to work for vacuum manufacturers ITL on the Ponswood industrial estate in Menzies Road, St Leonards.

Money he was earning was helping fund his year-long tour of Australia with friends.

He was only two months into his trip when he was caught up in the inferno on June 23, 2000 at the Palace Backpackers' Hostel in the town of Childers, 190 miles north of Brisbane.

Mr Todd, who also works at ITL, said the family was still coming to terms with the death of Arsenal supporter Adam.

A memorial service is being held in Australia on June 23. Long will be sentenced on Monday.