Soldier's letter read at funeral

Cpl Reeve's family said he was "loving, loyal, honourable, selfless and gentle"

The funeral of a British soldier from East Sussex who was killed in Afghanistan has taken place.

Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, 28, of the Royal Signals, died with three colleagues when a roadside bomb destroyed their vehicle on June 17.

About 300 people were at Cpl Reeve's requiem at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Brighton, where a letter he wrote in the event of his death was read out.

In the letter he paid tribute to his friends, siblings, and family.

"Please trust me that no matter what the circumstances of my death, no matter how fast, no matter how slow, I was strong without fear and without pain," he wrote.

'Selfless and gentle'

"My only suffering will be the realisation that I will not see my family and friends again," he added.

Cpl Reeve died alongside Cpl Sarah Bryant, the first British female soldier killed in Afghanistan, L/Cpl Richard Larkin, and Paul Stout, in Helmand Province to the south of the country.

His wooden coffin was adorned with a tin whistle and drum, and carried into the church by six pall bearers, before being laid at the altar with two photographs of him.

Shortly after his death, he was described by his family as "loving, loyal, honourable, selfless and gentle".

"Sean's professionalism and determination for all that he did was an inspiration to all that were fortunate to have known him," a statement continued.

"Taken from us but never forgotten."