THE six-year-old daughter of a fallen soldier paid tribute to her 'hero' daddy at a service held in his honour today.

Hundreds of people paid their respects to Corporal Andrew Steven Roberts, who was killed in a rocket attack in the Nahr-e-Sarj district of Afghanistan earlier this month.

The 32-year-old from Middlesbrough, had been deployed to Afghanistan on March 11 but died alongside his comrade, Private Ratu Manasa Silibaravi on May 4.

The father-of-three was stationed at the Forward Operating Base Ouellette, to command an advanced search team looking for improvised explosive devices in high-risk areas.

This afternoon, a guard of honour lined the steps of Middlesbrough Town Hall at 12.30pm as friends, family and colleagues arrived for a humanist funeral service.

Cpl Robert's coffin was draped in a Union Flag adorned with a poppy wreath, his cap and his belt.

Floral tributes in red and white, the colours of Cpl Robert's beloved Middlesbrough Football Club, which read: 'Daddy,' 'Son', and 'Brother' were placed inside the hearse.

Cpl Roberts daughter Jessica, six, was comforted by Warrant Officer II Christian Belcher-Marks as she entered the Town Hall wearing a long pink dress.

A message from Jessica was read out by a relative which said: "We love you daddy to the moon and back and then again.

"You are our hero. We miss you greatly and we'll never forget you."

Around 200 members of the public watched Cpl Roberts coffin arrive in silence and gave him two rounds of applause after the service.

Seven of Cpl Roberts' comrades carried his coffin into the building where around 600 people, including around 200 soldiers in uniform gathered to celebrate his life.

Members of his family wore red and green ties, the colours of 23 Pioneer Regiment, of the Royal Logistic Corps, in which he served.

Red and green flowers decorated the stage in the Town Hall as Cpl Roberts Commander, Lieutenant Dom Fletcher, led the tributes to the fallen solider.

Cpl Roberts, of Hemlington, Middlesbrough, was described as a 'professional soldier, a loving dad and a prankster with a sharp wit' during the service.

Lieutenant Fletcher told of Cpl Roberts' professionalism, his high level of fitness, commitment to boxing and his sense of humour.

He said Cpl Roberts was known in his regiment as 'Ginge' because of his red hair, and was hugely popular.

A wreath in the hearse in white and blue spelt out his other nickname 'Ginner', which was used by friends and family.

Cpl Roberts' served in Iraq and Bosnia and was killed during his second tour of Afghanistan.

He was due to return next month and planned to marry his girlfriend Paula Ewers.

As well as young daughter Jessica, Cpl Roberts' son Kyle, five and Kayla, three, attended the service with their mother Lynsey Roberts.

A tribute from Cpl Roberts older sister Tracey was read out by Volney Ham Ying, who conducted the service.

It read: "He always had a smile on his face and never had a bad word to say about anyone.

"He was a fantastic father, uncle, nephew, son and most of all a brilliant brother."

At the end of the service as family members left holding a framed picture of Cpl Roberts, members of the public broke out into applause.

His children previously wrote a heartfelt tribute to their father which read: "For our brave dad who went away to build sandcastles and stop the bad men hurting people.

"We love you to the moon and back.

"You are an angel in Heaven now looking down on us all, we wish yesterday had never happened and you were still here to phone us and take us out.

"You were the best dad, we remember all the fun things we did, we will never forget you and will love you forever.

"You are our Hero and we will pray for you always."

As well as his partner and children, he leaves his parents Pauline and Stephen, and siblings Tracey, Mark, Darren, Michael and Emma.

Partner, Paula also paid tribute. In a statement issued shortly after his death, she said: "Andrew truly was a hero and I'm so proud of what he achieved.

He was such a special, kind and caring person.

"I was blessed to have spent the past two and a half years with Andrew.

"He made me and my son Josh so happy.

"I have lost my soulmate and my best friend.

"The memories I have of our time together I will hold in my heart forever."