Hundreds of mourners who gathered yesterday for the funeral of military policeman Ben Hyde - killed by a mob in Iraq - heard the brave young soldier's moving final words to his parents.

Lance Corporal Hyde had written a "last letter" before the conflict began to be handed over in the event of his death.

And yesterday, John and Sandra Hyde listened as their only child's final goodbye was read out in All Saints Church, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

"If you are reading this then you know that I'm not coming home. I'm up in the stars now looking down on you making sure that you are safe," wrote L Cpl Hyde.

''You have both got long lives ahead of you. So make sure you make use of every second you have because sitting here writing this now I know just how precious time is.

"Thank you for being the best parents anyone could ever have wished for and giving me everything I could ever have wanted and more."

Hundreds of people yesterday mourned the death of the 23-year-old, who died along with his five comrades of the Royal Military Police (RMP) in Majar al-Kabir, in Iraq, last month.

His hometown came to a standstill at lunchtime as friends, relatives and strangers paid their respect to the military policeman described by friends as "a real nice person with a big heart".

The sound of the lament Going Home, played by North Yorkshire Police piper PC James McGowan, filled the clear blue skies as relatives and loved ones processed into the church.

Crowds of well-wishes gathered outside in the sun to listen to the service, relayed by sound system, and watched as the young man was buried with full military honours.

Mr Hyde, a porter at the nearby Friarage Hospital, held on to his son's red cap - which L Cpl Hyde had always dreamed of wearing - as his coffin was lowered into the ground.

From the graveside three single roses were cast into the earth with him as a mark love from his parents and girlfriend Sarah.

L Cpl Hyde is the third of six RMPs to be buried after they were shot by a baying mob at a police station near Basra on June 24. His father has spoken with pride in his son's actions. "They were targeted and no matter what way you look at it they stood their ground and they did what they were trained to do," he said.

"They could have killed a lot more people out there if they had wanted to, but they didn't. They were trying to prevent casualties."

L Cpl flew out to Iraq on Valentines day and was due to return home last Saturday. He had joined the Army in June 2001 and was posted to 156 Provost Company Royal Military Police in March 2002.

Platoon Commander, Captain Jim Hibbert, told the congregation that L Cpl Hyde's proudest moment in his short life was his passing out parade at the RMP Training School at Chichester.

"The ceremony itself was lost on him - to him it was just a sequence of events - what he took away from that day was the look of sheer adoration on his parents faces as they greeted him afterwards," said Capt Hibbert.

"Ben was proud to be loved, he never took anyone for granted."

The young military policeman's attitude was reflected in his heartfelt letter to his parents. He wrote: "Remember that every time you are thinking of me I am thinking of you too."

Hero and a friend - Page