THANKS has been given by the parents of Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde to the dozens of people who have passed on their condolences to the family.

John Hyde spoke of the number of letters, phone calls and flowers he and his wife had received following the death of their only son while he was serving in Iraq.

"It is quite astonishing, when I look at all the cards that people have written, to see how kind they can be," said Mr Hyde, of Bankhead Road, Northallerton. L/Cpl Hyde was one of six Royal Military Policemen killed in Majar al-Kabir last week.

At his parents' home the many flowers and condolence cards show how much the young man meant to the many people in his life.

One touching letter was from the staff at Mill Hill Primary School, Northallerton, who remembered L/Cpl Hyde as a boy.

They wrote: "From the day he started school until the day he left there was no side or edge to Ben - what you saw was what you got.

"His sense of humour and impish smile will always be remembered."

Mr Hyde said: "Ben was only 23 years old, but believe me he had lived life to the full. He was always larger than life.

"I want him to be remembered by all for the wonderful man that he was. The kind thoughts and messages help."