Repatriation of British soldiers killed in Helmand

The bodies of two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan have been flown back to the UK.

The bodies of L/Cpl Andrew Breeze, 31, from Manchester and Pte Jonathan Monk, 25, from London, arrived at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire earlier.

After a private ceremony at the base chapel, their coffins were driven through the nearby market town of Wootton Bassett.

Crowds lined the high street in tribute to the servicemen.

The cortege paused at the war memorial before moving on to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.

L/Cpl Breeze of 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, was killed in an explosion during an operation to clear a checkpoint area in Helmand Province.

Following his death, his family said in a statement: "We are very proud of a brave, loving and sincere son and brother.

"He served for 14 years in the Armed Forces and was recognised as an excellent soldier.

"The Army was his life. He is going to be desperately missed by his family and his fiancee."

Pte Monk, of 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, was caught in an explosion during a foot patrol in Helmand Province.

He was helping to clear an area of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to increase freedom of movement for Afghans.

In a statement issued after his death, his family said: "Jon was the most wonderful son, and a truly great brother to Michaela.

"The Army was in his blood, it was all he'd ever wanted to do since he was five-years-old."