THE families and friends of six soldiers killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan paid poignant public tribute to their memory today as their bodies were repatriated.

More than 2,000 well-wishers and fellow servicemen lined the streets in Carterton, Oxfordshire, as a convoy of hearses bearing the mens coffins paused at a memorial garden near RAF Brize Norton.

As the hearses came to a halt at the memorial, relatives of the tragic comrades placed dozens of red and white roses and carnations on top of the vehicles and comforted each other.

Those paying tribute to the six troops lined the roadside in order of the servicemens rank, with the lead hearse carrying the body of Sergeant Nigel Coupe.

A party of Royal British Legion standard bearers from various regimental associations also paid their respects to the soldiers as the hearses stopped beside a Union Flag flying at half-mast.

See page two for images as the cortege passed through Carterton.