A community which has lost three soldiers in seven months to the war in Afghanistan yesterday turned out in force to mourn another hero.

Rifleman Luke Farmer, 19, from 3rd Battalion the Rifles, became the fourth from the Wakefield area to die when an improvised device exploded in Helmand on January 15.

He had been clearing a route in the dark with a metal detector . Around 850 mourners crammed into Wakefield Cathedral, with another 300 gathered in the rain outside to pay their respects.

The Very Rev'd Jonathan Greener, Dean of Wakefield, said Luke, from Pontefract, had "sacrificed his life".

His platoon commander Lt Palmer Win-stanley said Luke was "fearless." He added: "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for his skills."