MOURNERS of a Cwmbran soldier killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan today remembered him as "a Welsh warrior with whom you could trust your life’’ at his funeral.

Private James Prosser, 21, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, was caught in a blast on September 27 while driving a Warrior vehicle in the Musa Qaleh district of northern Helmand Province.

He had joined the battalion in February having joined the Army in July last year.

Hundreds of people packed St Gabriel's Church in Cwmbran, including local dignitaries and the parents of Private Richard Hunt who was the 200th British troop to die in Afghanistan.

Hundreds more lines the streets to say goodbye to the young soldier.

His coffin, draped with the Union Flag, was carried into the church along with white and red floral tributes spelling the words Welsh warrior and depicting the Fleur de Lys.

Following the first hymn, 14 of Pte Prosser's closest friends gathered in front of the altar and each read a line of a poem they had written in tribute to him.

The poem told how "Prosser’’ had changed their lives and included the lines: "Some people will say 'another fallen soldier', we don't agree, you're a great Welsh warrior.’’ Padre Jonathon Daniel read out excerpts from a school essay Pte Prosser's younger brother Josh had written just days before his death in which he spoke of his pride in his sibling.

In the essay, Josh wrote: "It took one year for my brother to become a soldier fighting for us and his country.

"I'm very proud of him and what he has become in just one year.’’ The padre added his own thoughts, saying: "Pte James Prosser was a Welsh warrior with whom you could trust your life.’’