THE family of a fallen war hero laid red roses on the hearse carrying his body during an emotional and public homecoming.

Hundreds of people joined family and friends to pay their respects to Corporal Stephen Thompson, from Bovey Tracey, Devon, who made the Army his life and "died doing something he loved".

Cpl Thompson's body was brought back to the UK yesterday after he was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Sunday.

During an emotional show of public support for Britain's war dead, the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett once again came to a standstill in respect. As the cortege passed through the town, the hearse carrying Cpl Thompson briefly came to a stop in front of his grieving parents, Carol and Peter, brother Philip, sister Helen and friends. As it did so, they carefully laid flowers on the car and comforted each other, before the vehicle slowly drove away.

Cpl Thompson, who was 31, was one of five war casualties brought home yesterday. As the most senior serviceman killed, his hearse led the solemn cortege.

Moments before it arrived, his mother said: "I am immensely proud of Stephen for his bravery and his courage and for the fact he volunteered to go to Afghanistan.

"I can't say exactly what today has been like because I can't explain my emotions. I know Stephen would probably have laughed at all the fuss. He was in the Army for a long time and it was a big part of who he was. He died doing something he loved and we are all extremely proud of him. We are here today to bring him home."

Also flown home yesterday were Corporal Richard Green, Riflemen Jonathon Allott and Liam Maughan, all of 3 Rifles, and Lance Corporal Thomas Keogh, of 4 Rifles.

Cpl Thompson's close friends from 1 Rifles carried his coffin, draped in the Union flag, out of the plane and on to British soil.

They were met by his family, who were allowed time alone with his body in a nearby chapel of rest.