The body of a Maidstone-based soldier was repatriated today.

Warrant Officer Second Class David Markland, from 36 Engineer Regiment at Invicta Barracks, died clearing explosive devices in Helmand province on Monday.

He was returned to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire along with Corporal Johnathan Moore and Private Sean McDonald. Their cortege then passed through Wooton Bassett.

The 36-year-old had lived in Maidstone since 2007.

He was deployed on Operation HERRICK 11 as a Royal Engineer Search Advisor with the Joint Force EOD Group, as part of the Counter-IED Task Force.

This was his eighth tour of duty during his distinguished 20-year service, having completed five tours in Bosnia between 1995 and 1998, one in Iraq in 2003 and this his second tour of Afghanistan.

The father-of-two, from Euxton in Lancashire, has been described as a "talismanic figure".

WO 2 Markland leaves behind his wife Corallee and their two sons Keelen, aged 10 and Logan, aged 7. In a statement, his family said: "Dave was a wonderful husband, father, son and brother.

"His family and friends all loved and adored him. Keelen and Logan will always remember how funny and playful dad was.

"He will be sadly missed and leaves behind a family who he loved and loves him very, very much. We are all very proud of our hero."

His death brought the total number of British soldiers killed in the conflict to 256, which is more than died during the Falklands war.