Funeral for 'wonderful' soldier

Sgt Matthew Telford was said to have loved his job

The funeral of a soldier from Grimsby who was one of five killed in an attack in Afghanistan has taken place.

Father-of-two Sgt Matthew Telford was one of three Grenadier Guards who died in a shooting carried out by a rogue Afghan policeman.

His funeral was held at Grimsby's St James's Church.

Sgt Telford, 37, leaves a wife Kerry and two sons aged nine and four. His uncle told BBC News he had loved being in the Army and was a "wonderful lad".

More than 1,000 people lined the streets of Grimsby ahead of the service. Crowds broke into spontaneous applause as Sgt Telford's union flag-draped coffin, carried by Grenadier Guardsmen, arrived at the church.

Members of Sgt Telford's family followed behind and the Dire Straits song Brothers in Arms was played as the procession entered the church.

Sgt Telford was described as a "brave soldier"

During the hour-long service Canon Michael Hunter told mourners: "Matthew's sacrifice in the service of our country is a huge price to pay but it has brought honour to our community and so have your expressions of solidarity.

"Our hope is that this is a fitting tribute to a brave soldier and helps to heal broken hearts."

The five dead soldiers, three from the Grenadier Guards and two from the Royal Military Police, had been mentoring and living with the Afghan police in a compound.

They were killed in Helmand Province on 3 November.

The other soldiers who died were Guardsman James "Jimmy" Major, whose funeral was held in Cleethorpes on Wednesday, Warrant Officer Darren Chant, Acting Cpl Steven Boote and Cpl Nicholas Webster-Smith.