THE widow of a bomb disposal expert wept as his body was repatriated to the UK today.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie Wood's wife, Heather, stood at the side of the road in Wootton Bassett wearing his medals with pride.

She placed red roses and a Middlesbrough Football Club scarf on his hearse as it passed through the town.

More than 100 men from 23 Pioneer Regiment braved the cold to join his family for the first repatriation of 2011.

WO2 Wood, 34, from Middlesbrough, was killed in an explosion as he was leading the clearance of a route through the Khushdal Kalay area of the Helmand River Valley, Afghanistan.

He was flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, where a private service was held before the cortege passed through nearby Wootton Bassett.

The advanced search adviser, of 23 Pioneer Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, serving with the Counter-IED Task Force, was caught in the blast on December 28.

His friends said he was a "soldier for soldiers", always putting his men first.

Sgt Craig Perry, 36, of 23 Pioneer Regiment said: "He was a happy-go-lucky type of guy and he had an infectious personality.

"He would basically do anything for the guys, he was always for the lads and he would always look after them first putting them before himself.

"He had the mentality that he wouldn't send anybody out to do something he wouldn't do, he was always with the lads and diligent and professional through and through."

Only a few days before his death, he was organising the Christmas celebrations for his men.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Senior Master Instructor Chris Swift, 37, also of 23 Pioneer Regiment, added: "Charlie was always a fun-loving fellow, he was the life and soul of the mess.

"All the times I used to go out with him and his wife, Heather, he had a smile on his face.

"He always had good things to say about people and was always happy to help - a really good guy to have around.

"A fantastic soldier and a fantastic leader of men."

WO2 Wood leaves his widow Heather, mother Barbara, father John and sisters Samantha and Amanda.

In a statement, Heather Wood said her husband had been her best friend.

"Charlie had an infectious personality who made a positive effect on everyone he met; he had a heart of gold and endeared himself to everyone.

"He will be forever in our thoughts for the rest of our lives."

The Middlesbrough football fan, who joined the Army in 1994 and had also served in Iraq and Bosnia, had raised thousands of pounds for forces charities.

A total of 349 UK military personnel have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.