Seven soldiers' bodies repatriated

The body of Lance Corporal David Ramsden, of 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, was repatriated when a plane arrived at RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire.

The aircraft was also carrying the bodies of Colour Sergeant Martyn Horton, Private Alex Isaac and Private Douglas Halliday, all of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment. The bodies of Sergeant Steven Darbyshire, Lance Corporal Michael Taylor and Marine Paul Warren, all of 40 Commando Royal Marines, were also on the flight.

The family of Lance Corporal Ramsden, 26, from Leeds, said he lived life at "1,000 miles per hour" and added: "Although we didn't see much of him due to Army life, when he arrived back his personality lit up a room and we knew he was home and we will miss him so much."

He was killed along with Colour Sergeant Horton, Private Isaac and Private Halliday when their vehicle rolled into a waterway near Gereshk, Helmand, on June 23.

A private ceremony was held at the base before the cortege passed through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett.