More than 750 people have attended the funeral of a Coventry soldier who was killed in Afghanistan last month.
Bomb disposal expert Sapper Guy Mellors, 20, from 36 Engineer Regiment, was killed on 15 February while clearing bombs in north east Sangin.
Senior army officers described him as "an impressive young man" who had saved many lives through his work.
The funeral service was held at Coventry Cathedral with full military honours.
Hundreds of people lined the streets to pay their respects when the cortege arrived.
The congregation included MPs from the city and relatives of other soldiers who have died.
Speaking after his death his mother, Linda Holland, said the family was "very proud of Sapper Mellors", adding: "He will always be our hero, he lived his dream."
The Bishop of Coventry, The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, described the soldier at his funeral as a "national hero" who was a "faithful son", "heroic brother" and "courageous soldier".
He said: "What makes a young man risk his own death at such an early age and say to his mother 'if anything happens to me, don't go on the telly weeping full of regrets'.
"Linda, I say to you, that does not of course apply today. This is a day for tears."
The soldier's commanding officer, Lt Col Simon Hulme MBE, from 36 Engineer Regiment, said: "Guy was doing his job and it's a difficult job.
"It takes an element of courage to do what he does and quite a large element of courage.
"I think everyone who's prepared to put their lives on the line for others and indeed for a greater good is a hero of some sort."
Reverend Canon Adrian Daffern, from Coventry Cathedral, described him as a "brave and good soldier".
He added: "He was only 20 but he crammed a lot into that life, as a son, as a brother, as a friend."
Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:27 pm
