AN ARMED forces flag was flown at half-mast above a Merseyside town hall in tribute to three soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Private Douglas Niall Halliday, 20, from Wallasey, Private Alex Isaac, 20, from Wirral, and Colour Sergeant Martyn Simon Horton, 34, from Runcorn, all died alongside their colleague Lance Corporal David Ramsden, 26, from Leeds, when the vehicle they were in overturned into the Nahr-e Bughra canal.

The incident happened when the team were responding to an attack on a police checkpoint near Gereshk, in Helmand Province. Comrades were unable to save the men and they died shortly after 10pm on Wednesday. The crash is not thought to have been caused by enemy action.

Wirral Council leader, Cllr Jeff Green yesterday said a decision had been reached to fly a flag at half-mast, after the men’s deaths were confirmed.

Cllr Green said: “Because it was Armed Forces Day, the chief executive and I discussed it and agreed we should have the armed forces flag outside Wallasey Town Hall, flying at half-mast.”

The three Mersey men were all from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment.

Pte Halliday joined the army in 2008 and served in Northern Ireland and Kenya before being deployed to Afghanistan.

His family described him as “the life and soul of the party” and said he will be missed by all. They added: “Dougie was deeply loved by all of his family and friends for the love and laughter that he brought into their lives. We were all so proud when he was voted top cadet in his passing out parade.

“He did us all proud and lived by the family motto; Sis Justus nec timeas – be just and fear not.”

Pte Isaac’s family members paid a number of tributes to their “brave” soldier, who had been with the regiment since 2008.

His mother, Annette, said: “My beautiful darling son who was a fighter, and so brave, you will always be in my heart, my soul and my thoughts. God bless.”

His father, John, added: “I will miss you always my brave son Alex, you now live on in my thoughts and my heart.”