THE grieving family, friends and comrades of a Runcorn soldier killed when his armoured vehicle plunged into an Afghan canal was laid to rest yesterday.

Colour Sergeant Martyn Horton, from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died alongside Private Douglas Halliday, from Wallasey, and Private Alex Isaac, from Liscard.

As the rain poured yesterday, the hearse and cars drew up outside St Michael’s Church, in Runcorn.

Hundreds of mourners lined the street and silently waited as Sgt Horton’s coffin, covered in a Union Jack, was carried by his six comrades to the church.

A military guard lowered their flags as the procession passed and the sound of the rain was muffled by the hymn Abide with Me.

The 34-year-old’s son Ethan, nine, and girlfriend Gemma Jones led the tributes.

On a note surrounded by flowers spelling son and dad, Ms Jones, mother of the soldier’s step-daughter Bethany, 17, wrote: “Martyn, my lover, my hero, my everything.

“You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me but sadly that has been taken away.

“I will keep you forever in my heart and you will always have a special place in our home.”

The Liverpool FC fan’s brother wrote: “I am so proud to have you as my brother.

“If I grow into half the man you were, I would be so happy.”

And a tribute from the 34-year-old’s parents said: “An amazing son who will be so missed by all who knew you. Never forgotten.”

After the service, the soldier’s coffin was lowered back into the hearse as the crowd began to clap.