A man from Wallingford whose son was killed fighting so-called Islamic State has said he had no idea the 22-year-old was in Syria.

Dean Carl Evans was killed by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) in July as he fought alongside Kurdish militant group YPG in the northern city of Manbij.

Speaking anonymously to ITV news Dean's father said he would have tried to stop his son if he knew.

Mr Evans said: "I had no idea whatsoever until I was informed of his death... I don't know how he got involved with them [Kurdish militia].

"It still hasn't sunk in properly yet."

Mr Evans said he had not spoken to his son for 18 months after he became distant and still thought he was a farmer and did not find out he had died until he was called by the Foreign Office two days after his death.

He said Dean had always wanted to serve in the military but was not allowed to join because he had asthma.

Mr Evans said: "Obviously he was determined that he wanted to do something in the military lines.

"I personally feel that he thought that would be the closer thing to the military he could get to because he wouldn't require a medical or anything like that."

Mr Evans said he does not know where his son's body is located and said it would not be repatriated as Dean wanted to be buried with his Kurdish "brothers and sisters" rather than in the UK.

He advised other parents to talk their children out of going to fight in Syria.

He said: "I'd advise them to give their son as much advice not to go out there.

"It's too pointless, too dangerous.

"You might feel you're doing good but at the end of the day you're not achieving anything."

Earlier this month John Evans, who claimed he was Dean's father, posted on facebook to say his son had been killed in Syria,