Funeral for Afghanistan soldier

More than 500 people attended the church service

Hundreds of mourners at the funeral of a West Yorkshire soldier killed in Afghanistan heard he paid "the highest price" while serving his country.

Jordan Rossi, 22, from Baildon, was killed in an explosion in Helmand Province on 23 May.

Rossi, a sapper in the 38 Engineer Regiment, was taking part in an operation to clear explosives when he was caught in the blast.

More than 500 people gathered for the funeral at a church in Saltaire.

Padre David Adams, an Army chaplain based at Catterick Garrison, read a tribute on behalf of the soldier's mother Theresa at the service at the United Reformed Church.

In it, she said: "I love you son, I hold you and your happiness within my heart each day and every day. I am so proud of you and so thankful for the years you have given me.

"If I had a chance to be anything, there's nothing I would rather be than your parent and there's no one I would rather have as my son."

Soldiers such as Jordan do this day in and day out with little regard for themselves. They do it with great humour Major Malcolm Gill

Padre Adams said Sapper Rossi carried out his job with "courage, skill and determination".

He said: "He died in the service of others and the service of this country, doing the job he loved and was trained for and was so proud to do."

He continued: "Soldiers such as Jordan do this day in and day out with little regard for themselves. They do it with great humour.

"I believe that he and they can truly be called heroes. Sadly, as we know, some like Jordan pay the highest price."

Major Malcolm Gill, Officer Commanding for the regiment, described Sapper Rossi as "a proud and hugely capable soldier".

He said: "Rossi made the worst situations seem bearable for those around him.

"As he lay mortally wounded on that fatal evening, he even managed to joke about going for a curry in Bradford."