Skydivers to scatter hero's ashes

The ashes of a hero soldier from Staffordshire who died in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan are to be scattered during a skydive.

A parachuting friend of keen skydiver Corporal Darryl Gardiner will scatter the ashes in a free fall jump at Netheravon, Wiltshire, where he did most of his jumps.

Corporal Gardiner's funeral with full military honours was held yesterday in St Mary's Collegiate Church in Stafford town centre. It was attended by hundreds of people including representatives of the the armed services.

The 25-year-old Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, of Mahogany Drive, Stafford, died after the vehicle in which he was ferrying a badly injured comrade to a helicopter was hit by a mine strike near the town of Musa Qala on January 20 – just five days before his birthday.

Among the mourners were Corporal Gardiner's mother Sharon Ross, father Mark Gardiner, brother Paul, sister Laura, girlfriend Lucy Smith.

Lt Col Andy Teskey, Corporal Gardiner's former commanding officer, told the congregation: "This has been a tragic end to a promising life of a bright 25-year-old.

A private cremation took place after the service at Stafford Crematorium.