A man who established his own independent state on a former military platform in the sea off East Anglia has died at the age of 91.

"Prince" Roy Bates set up the Principality of Sealand in international waters seven miles off the coast of Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Mr Bates died on October 9 at a nursing home in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

His son "Prince" Michael said he would be remembered as a man who stood up to the establishment.

World War II veteran Roy Bates was involved in setting up the pirate radio station Radio Essex at a different offshore platform before moving to Roughs Tower, which he renamed Sealand and declared it as independent territory in 1967.

The tower was built as a platform for anti-aircraft guns during World War II.

Sealand, now run by Michael Bates, is used as a base for Internet servers and other business ventures.

BBC