Hundreds of mourners yesterday packed a village church for the funeral of Afghan hero Christopher King.

Christopher, 20, of the 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards, was killed by a bomb as he cleared a vulnerable point to protect British patrols in Helmand on July 22.

His mother Tina Young told the congregation crowded with his friends and medal-decked war veterans, that Christopher was "her angel" and he "wore his uniform with pride". She added: "I will never forget you. You are in my heart."

Christopher's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray, added: "Guardsman Chris King was a fine young man and a proud Coldstreamer." The service at St Peter's Church, in his home village of West Buckland, Devon, was followed by a private burial with full military honours. Christopher passed out from infantry training just a year ago

Tina, 42, earlier revealed she never wanted her son to join the Army but, once he enlisted, she supported him all the way.

She said: "He was a proper Devon boy and his friends and family loved him so much. He was a gamekeeper and beater. He loved his shooting and planned to enter the sharpshooters' course.

"He loved the ceremonial stuff the Coldstream Guards did, like looking after the Queen. He was hugely patriotic, very likeable and a great morale booster."

Salute for a fallen hero

Scores of people lined the streets of Wootton Bassett again as the body of another soldier killed in Afghanistan was flown back to the UK yesterday.

Mechanic Anthony Lombardi, 21, of Scunthorpe, died in an explosion in Helmand on Tuesday.

Bystander Sam Morton, eight, saluted as the body passed through the town from RAF Lyneham, Wilts.

Anthony leaves a fiancée Ellie and son Harvey, aged one.