Funeral fly-past for serviceman

SAC Bridge was a popular member of his squadron

The funeral of an RAF serviceman killed in an explosion in Afghanistan has been held in Sheffield, his home city.

Senior Aircraftman Christopher Bridge, was serving with C Flight, 51 Squadron RAF Regiment when he was killed in Kandahar province on 30 August.

A private funeral for the 20-year-old took place at St James' and St Christopher's Church in Shire Green.

The whole of SAC Bridge's squadron was expected to attend and there was a fly-past by an RAF Tornado jet.

'Pride and joy'

The squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, was on patrol when one of its vehicles was caught in the blast which killed SAC Bridge.

A civilian interpreter was also killed and two other servicemen injured in the blast during the patrol around Kandahar airfield, the main hub for international forces flying in and out of southern Afghanistan.

SAC Bridge's mother, Nicolette Williams, described her son as her "pride and joy".

His commanding officer, Flying Officer Matt Jupp, said that although SAC Bridge had joined the RAF as a quiet man, he had grown into an "adventurous, charismatic and intelligent gunner".