Tributes after soldier dies in suicide blast

TRIBUTES have been paid to a "model" soldier killed in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan.

Rifleman Daniel Holkham, from city-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles, serving with 3 Rifles Battle Group, was killed on Saturday in an explosion near the Sangin Bazaar, in Helmand Province, the Ministry of Defence said.

His family said: "The loss of our son Danny has left a huge hole in our lives and that of his brothers and friends that can never again be filled. He served his country faithfully and with great pride."

Rfn Holkham, of Chatham, Kentjoined the Army at age 16.

In April 2008, he joined 3 Rifles in Edinburgh and was posted to 4 Platoon, B Company. He deployed to Afghanistan last September.

He was working with his platoon from a patrol base in central Sangin to provide security to the local people, an MoD spokesman said.

"He was killed when he stopped a suicide bomber who then detonated a device outside the Sangin Bazaar," the spokesman added.