TRIBUTES have been paid to high-ranking TA officer and businessman who was killed on a family holiday in Florida.

Lt Col Ian Hall was fatally injured earlier this month when he was hit by a car while in Orlando.

He was the commanding officer of 34 (Northern) Signal Regiment based in Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, but lived in Thirsk with his family.

He had only assumed command of the regiment in November last year at the age of 43, having been with the unit since 1984.

His previous post was as second-in-command of the regiment and he had worked his way up through the officer ranks to be the first TA commanding officer of the unit for 16 years.

His second-in-command Major Graham Jennings said: "Ian was a popular and respected officer and many of those officers and soldiers that he commanded had served with him from when he first joined the unit. He worked hard to reach what he considered the pinnacle of his TA career. It is a sad loss to the regiment and our thoughts are with his wife and their two young boys."

In his civilian career Lt Col Hall worked for Halifax Bank of Scotland as head of business standards in Leeds. He leaves a widow, Anne-Marie, and two young sons, Jamie and Edward. The funeral was held at All Saints Church in Thirsk on Friday.