A CATHEDRAL funeral service will be held next week for a North-east soldier killed in Afghanistan.

A funeral service with full military honours will be held for Lieutenant Edward Drummond-Baxter in Durham Cathedral on Tuesday (November 20) at 2pm.

The 29-year-old, who lived with his parents near Consett, was killed alongside Lance Corporal Siddhanta Kunwar on October 30, one month into his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Both soldiers, from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, were attending a meeting in Nahr-e Saraj when a man in Afghan police uniform opened fire.

Lt Drummond-Baxter, who was born in Peterborough, leaves behind his mother, Helen, father, David and sister, Emily.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel David Robinson, described Lt Drummond-Baxter as "a character, a true gentleman and an inspirational leader".