Shops closed, traffic stopped and crowds lined the streets, proving actions can speak as loud as the moving words that were used to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Ben Hyde yesterday.

ON a hot summer's day, the harsh reality of a young man's tragic death was echoed through a market town by the sound of pipes.

The music broke through the silence of the hundreds of people in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, who watched as members of the Royal Military Police (RMP) marked the fall of their comrade.

As L Cpl Hyde's coffin was taken along the high street to All Saint's Parish Church, shops locked their doors.

The pavement was filled with people paying their final respects to the 23-year-old, who was one of six RMP soldiers, known as Red Caps, shot last month while serving in Iraq.

Flowers piled up around the market cross, with heartfelt messages from friends and strangers.

One read simply: "From one parent to another," a small comfort, perhaps, to John and Sandra Hyde, who have lost their only son.

Taped to one bouquet of flowers was a message.

It read: "This country will remember you as a hero, I will remember you as a friend. You will be remembered in history for the way you died, you will be remembered by me for the way you lived."

Within the church, more tributes were paid to L Cpl Hyde, with touching and honest words that brought tears to both those who did and did not know him.

His cousins, Asha and Jenny Singh, spoke of the young man as their big brother, who influenced them throughout the years.

Asha said: "Anyone who knew Ben would know him as fun, cheeky, incredibly charming and incredibly brave.

"It was hard to know Ben without falling in love with him, I do not know anyone who did not.

"So I want to say goodbye to this amazing and beautiful person, who touched my life and my heart in a way I cannot explain.

"I am truly proud of him, and I know, in time, his memory will fill me with happiness."

L Cpl Hyde's many friends also shared their memories with the 450-strong congregation in the church and the crowds outside.

Hamish Hoare told of his friend's "adoration for his mum and dad", and of girlfriend Sarah, who Ben spoke of "with love and anticipated pride, which he knew he would feel on her graduation day".

Mr Hoare touched on his own impression of the military policeman.

He said: "My warm, wonderful, dedicated-to-life, good friend Ben was a unique, constant, consistent, uplifting catching of happiness.

"My own personal world will be emptier and less bright without him. I would like you all to know how totally irreplaceable my great friend Ben is."

Padre Jonathan Ball, chaplain of the Queen's Dragoon Guards, added to these words by saying: "In his 23 and a half short years, and most especially in these last few months as a military policeman in the Army, Ben has changed his small part of the universe forever.

"He has changed the world he has served in for the better."

At the close of the service, L Cpl Hyde's father, of Northallerton, found strength to read The Final Mile by Brian Patton.

Before reciting the poem, he said: "I would like to think this could have been written by any of the comrades who died."

The poem's final verse fittingly reads: "And when they ask how it was that I died, tell them it was with honour and with pride.

"But tell them I am not dead, but hand in hand with angels. Tell them I am with my comrades at the gates of paradise and tell them with a smile that I wait for you to walk that final mile."

l The last of the Red Caps from the region who died will be laid to rest tomorrow.

Corporal Paul Long, 24, of South Shields, South Tyneside, will be buried with full military honours. The married father-of-one was on his first deployment.

His family and friends will gather at the Garrison Church, in Colchester, Essex, where he was stationed.

Following a service, his body will be taken to Colchester Cemetery, where the Last Post will be played, and colleagues will fire three rounds over his grave.

It follows the funeral last week of Corporal Simon Miller, of Washington Village, Tyne and Wear, who also died.

Hundreds of mourners packed Holy Trinity Church in Washington to pay tribute to the 24-year-old.