Farewell to 'the best bloke ever'.

THE coffin of a "brave and outstanding" soldier killed in Afghanistan is carried into a church yesterday as 400 mourners pay tribute.

L Cpl Dale Hopkins, 23, of the Parachute Regiment died on August 6 when his Jackal armoured vehicle was hit by a blast in Helmand Province.

Colleagues Cpl Kevin Mulligan and Pte Kyle Adams were also killed on the routine security patrol with Afghan forces.

Family, friends and colleagues of L Cpl Hopkins crammed into St Stephen's Church in his home town of Redditch, Worcs, yesterday.

And 300 more outside listened to the service on a public address system.

Before the service L Cpl Hopkins' commanding officer spoke of the "outstanding, brave, upright and professional soldier" who "readily embraced the selfsacrifice and dedication required of his profession".

A friend called Dom told mourners Dale was "the best bloke I've ever known."

There was laughter when L Cpl Hopkins' uncle, Alan, told how his nephew said he joined the Regiment because "the chicks love a para".

He added: "The whole world loved him."

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MOURNED L Cpl Dale Hopkins SOLEMN Well-wishers watch yesterday's funeral procession