Funeral for hero soldier

Hundreds of mourners gathered today as a Kidderminster soldier was laid to rest with full military honours in his home town.

It came as it was announced another British serviceman had been killed in Afghanistan.

Friends, family and fellow soldiers past and present paid their last respects to Lance Corporal Richard Brandon, of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

A volley of shots was due to ring out outside St George's Church, in Kidderminster, as a tribute to the 24-year-old killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

The crowd broke into spontaneous applause as the coffin, draped in a Union Jack, arrived, while Second World War veterans looked on as the coffin was taken through a guard of honour into the church.

Sergeant Henry Breed, who served alongside Lance Corporal Brandon in Afghanistan, described him as a fantastic soldier.

"He loved his family dearly and took pride in all his work," he said.

Former students from King Charles First School, where Lance Cpl Brandon was a pupil, also attended.

A song he had chosen for his wedding to fiancee Emma-Jayne Webster was being played at his funeral as a poignant farewell.

Miss Webster, aged 27, asked for Amazed by You by Bryan Adams to be played.

The couple, who have a daughter Kaitlin, three, planned to marry at Kidderminster Register Office next August and had chosen the song for their first dance.

L/Cpl Brandon also leaves behind Ms Webster's sons Martyn, 12, and Liam, nine.

The latest casualty announced today was an airman from 34 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment who died in a blast in Helmand Province, yesterday afternoon. His family has been informed.