Crowds line streets for sad farewell to soldier described by Prince as a legend

Corporal Liam Riley, 21, of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, the Duke of Wellington's, was killed by an explosion in Afghanistan earlier this month as he tried to assist Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, from Huddersfield, who was killed by a blast moments earlier.

Cpl Riley worked alongside Prince Harry during training in Canada.

Police closed roads and about 500 people braved bitter temperatures as they waited at the entrance to the cathedral while others lined the streets.

Police said there was standing room only inside, despite a large cathedral capacity of 550.

Three coach loads of Cpl Riley's friends and colleagues travelled to the funeral from Warminster in Wiltshire, where the late soldier was based.

Alongside Cpl Riley's coffin, draped in a Union flag and topped with his regimental hat, belt and a wreath of white flowers, was a flower arrangement which spelled the word "son".

As the coffin was carried into church, 18 standard bearers from various Yorkshire regiments performed a ceremonial dip.

Members of Cpl Riley's family, from Killamarsh, near Sheffield, paid tribute during the service, with his elder brother Jonathan moving many of the congregation to tears.

Mr Riley said: "All I can say as Liam's older brother is that it's been a privilege and an honour to watch him grow into the man he became."

He described a letter he received from a soldier who served with Cpl Riley in Afghanistan, which said: "I just felt safer with Liam by my side."

Mr Riley said he also felt "taller, prouder and safer with him stood next to me".

Concluding his tribute, Mr Riley said of his brother: "His memory will burn so brightly. It will shine in our minds, just like a shooting star in the dark night sky, just as his personality did on Earth."

Cpl Riley was buried in a private ceremony at Killamarsh Cemetery.