Hundreds of mourners packed into All Saints Church in Swanton Morley earlier today to say their goodbyes and honour Royal Anglian soldier L/Cpl Alex Hawkins.

Hundreds of mourners packed into All Saints Church in Swanton Morley earlier today to say their goodbyes and honour Royal Anglian soldier L/Cpl Alex Hawkins.

He was killed by an explosion in Afghanistan last month and his commanding officer described him as “one of the most promising soldiers of his generation.”

L/Cpl Hawkins, from Beetley, near Dereham, was just 22 when he was killed by an explosion while on patrol on the outskirts of Sangin, Helmand Province, on July 25.

His family, girlfriend, friends, and colleagues all attended the funeral with full military honours before travelling to the burial at Beetley churchyard.