THE soldier killed in a swoop by Paratroopers on a jungle hideaway in Sierra Leone to free six captured British soldiers was named last night.

Bombardier Brad Tinnion, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire who served with the Royal Artillery was killed during the dawn mission on Sunday.

He was with other soldiers who entered a renegade stronghold in a bid to free the members of the Royal Irish Regiment, who had been held by the rebel West Side Boys.

He and 25 rebels were killed during a 90-minute firefight deep in the jungle and several more troops were injured.

Mr Tinnion's mother, Phyllis Collins, of Harrogate, said she was "distraught at his death", adding: "We had a lovely son."

Local MP Phil Willis last night wrote to Mr Tinnion's family to express his sympathy.

"At this moment, all the family will think about is the loss and intense grief.

"But we in the constituency are immensely proud of a young man who, in carrying out the love of his life, lost his life so that innocent women and children would not continue to be butchered by renegade factions."

Earlier yesterday, Tory defence spokesman Iain Duncan Smith called for Britain to withdraw from Sierra Leone in the wake of the rescue of the British soldier hostages.

But Mr Willis told The Northern Echo: "It's terribly sad at a time of personal loss for a family that anyone should seek to make political capital.

"It's an insult to a young man who has given his life and saying that was worthless," said Mr Willis, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

He also said he would be pressing for Mr Tinnion to receive a posthumous medal. "A very brave local soldier has lost his life for his colleagues."