Soldier's family speak of pride

Relatives of a Nottingham-born soldier killed in Afghanistan have said they were proud he died serving his country, doing the job he loved.

L/Cpl Kieron Hill, 20, of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, was killed in an explosion near Garmsir in Helmand in southern Afghanistan on Thursday.

He was one of four brothers and a big Nottingham Forest fan.

L/Cpl Hill's mother, Vicki Holmes, from Clifton, said he had looked forward to a promising future.

'Very proud'

Ms Holmes said: "[Kieron was] a solider through and through, because he got his first promotion at 19, from Private to Lance Corporal and they said he was being watched for higher things.

"I feel proud, very. I can't be any prouder."

She said her son had always been keen to join the army as he grew up.

While at Fairham Community College in Clifton he applied for a cadetship, then once he had joined, passed out with an award at 17.

He had already served once in Afghanistan with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, second Battalion of the Mercian regiment.

L/Cpl Hill also leaves his father Daryl Mitchell, stepfather John Holmes, and his three brothers, Aaron, Liam and Joshua. Aaron plays football for Nottingham Forest and Liam for Notts County.

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Vicki Holmes says her son was a football-man