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

Lance Cpl Hyde had written a 'last letter' before the conflict began to be handed over in the event of his death. And last Tuesday John and Sandra Hyde listened as their only child's final goodbye was read out in All Saints Church, Northallerton.

"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. "Thank you for being the best parents anyone could ever have wished for."

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

His hometown came to a standstill at lunchtime as friends, relatives and strangers paid their respects.

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 entered 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 as his coffin was lowered into the ground.

From the graveside three single roses were cast into the earth with him as a mark of 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 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.