A dad who went to university in the county has described the heartache of losing his family in the Sri Lankan bombings.

Ben Nicholson, a University of Kent graduate, survived the blasts but his wife Anita and children, Alex and Annabel, were killed.

The family were on holiday in Colombo at the time and had been having breakfast when a bomb was detonated in the city's Shangri-La Hotel.

The explosion was one of several at churches and luxury hotels which killed more than 300 people and wounded 500 more.

Mr Nicholson, who studied for a law degree in Canterbury and was a talented squash player, paid loving tribute to his family in a statement released by the Foreign Office.

He told how his wife, Alex, 14, and Annabel, 11, had been sitting round a table when the bomb went off.

"Mercifully, all three of them died instantly and with no pain or suffering," he said.

"I am deeply distressed at the loss of my wife and children.

"Anita was a wonderful, perfect wife and a brilliant, loving and inspirational mother to our two wonderful children.

"The holiday we had just enjoyed was a testament to Anita's enjoyment of travel and providing a rich and colourful life for our family, and especially our children.

"Alex and Annabel were the most amazing, intelligent, talented and thoughtful children and Anita and I were immensely proud of them both and looking forward to seeing them develop into adulthood.

"They shared with their mother the priceless ability to light up any room they entered and bring joy to the lives of all they came into contact with."

Mr Nicholson thanked the medical teams at General Hospital in Colombo for treating his family with "great dignity" and him with "kindness and sympathy".

"I would also like to thank the teams at the British High Commission and Adhvan Tours who have looked after me since Sunday morning and the Sri Lankan people I have encountered in Colombo following this catastrophe," he added.

"Anita, Alex and Annabel leave behind a large extended family and many close and cherished friends who are now grieving this tragic loss. We shall all miss them dearly."

The Islamic State Group has claimed responsibilty for the attack, while Sri Lankan authorities blame a lesser-known jihadist group.

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