AN estimated 3,000 people paid their last repects to Royal Marine Philip Guy who was among the first casualties of the Iraqi war.

The funeral of Capt Guy, who was killed when a helicopter flying him back to base crashed in the Kuwaiti desert, was conducted with military honours on Friday.

Capt Guy, 29, grew up on a farm near Leyburn that is still run by his parents. Leading the mourners was his widow, Helen, who gave birth to their second child, Emily, just days after his death.

The funeral service, relayed to the silent crowds by loudspeakers, was held at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, where the couple were married and had their one-year-old son, Henry, christened.

They moved to Skipton in January to be nearer Helen's family.

Flags were flown at half mast from shops and offices and Capt Guy's coffin was draped with the Union flag with his ceremonial sword and medals placed on top. Fellow marines fired three volleys over his grave.