The funeral of a West Sussex marine biologist killed by a leopard seal in the Antarctic will be held on Friday.

Kirsty Brown, 28, is believed to have been drowned by the seal while snorkelling in July.

The experienced diver, from Horsham, had been researching for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) at its nearby Rothera Research Station for more than a year.

She was apparently attacked without warning while swimming with a colleague.

Kirsty's body arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire yesterday after being released by the Falkland Islands coroner.

Her funeral will be held on Friday at 3pm at the Church of the Holy Innocents in Southwater.

An inquest is due to be held in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, in late September or early October.

The Kirsty Brown Fund has been set up in her memory to investigate the behaviour of leopard seals and carry out geological research.