The family and friends of a soldier killed in Afghanistan have been paying tribute to him at a service in Glasgow.

Lance Corporal Tommy Brown, from 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment was killed in an explosion in Helmand Province just three days before Christmas.

L/Cpl Brown was on foot patrol with Afghan troops when he was killed by a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) near Sangin.

His funeral was held at Glasgow Cathedral this morning.  The service was conducted by two army padres hosted by the Rev Dr Laurence Whitley, minister of the Cathedral.

Ahead of the service, he said: "We are honoured that the family wanted to have the service in the cathedral because we like to think of it as being the mother church of the city."

It is understood L/Cpl Brown belonged to the Special Forces Support Group, which was formed in April 2006 to assist the SAS and Special Boat Service on operations.

At the time of his death a MoD spokesman said: "Lance Corporal Tommy Brown was a dynamic, optimistic and talented soldier and sportsman for whom no challenge was too great.

"He relished responsibility, and was never found wanting. In all that he did, he displayed the easy confidence of a natural leader. His cheeky grin and easy wit were never far from the surface, especially when things were tough. He died as he lived, leading from the front - the only place that someone like Tommy knew."

A spokesman for his regiment said: "He gave his life for his comrades and the Parachute Regiment, both of which meant so much to him.

"We are deeply honoured to have served alongside him."