A FIVE-GUN salute was sounded at the funeral of a young soldier - who returned to his native North-East to man Green Goddesses during the first 48-hour firefighters' strike.

Christopher Horvath, 20, of Redcar, east Cleveland, died in a car crash just over a week ago, after completing firefighting duty in Middlesbrough.

More than 300 people attended his funeral on Saturday, when pall-bearers from his squadron, The Light Dragoons, carried his coffin.

"It was so emotional, but the military did us proud," said his stepfather, Shaun Flynn.

"It's just a terrible waste of a young lad who had his whole life and his whole career in front of him.

"Even after three years in the Army, he would come home to see his mam and his family, and have a night out with his friends. He was a home-loving young man and his mother is just devastated."

Tpr Horvath's mother, Val Smith, was presented with her son's Army hat, belt and a Union Flag after the service at St Peter's Church, Redcar.

Letters of sympathy from his regiment, including General Sir Mike Jackson, are pinned on the family living room wall above flowers and photographs of him.

Tpr Horvath had completed a 48-hour Green Goddess duty at Brambles Farm Territorial Army base and was driving to visit friends in Hull when he was involved in an accident on the A1 near Micklefield, West Yorkshire.

One of his senior officers, Captain Kevin Smith, happened to be passing and stopped to help, but Tpr Horvath died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned in West Yorkshire.

The former pupil of Marske's Bydales School had been based with The Light Dragoons in Dereham, Norfolk for three years.

As well as his mother and stepfather he leaves his father, also Christopher, of Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, and sister, 17-year-old Samantha.