THE friends and family of soldiers shot dead by a rogue Afghan policeman have spoken of their devastation in the wake of the deaths.

Warrant Officer First Class Darren Chant, Sergeant Matthew Telford and Guardsman Jimmy Major from the Grenadier Guards died alongside Acting Corporal Steven Boote and Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith from the Royal Military Police.

The youngest of the soldiers to die was 18-year-old Guardsman Major from Cleethorpes.

Friends of Cpl Webster-Smith, 24, and from Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, left postings on his Facebook page expressing their shock and disbelief.

A series of poignant messages between the soldier and his girlfriend Emma Robinson before he died are still on the site.

After the shocking news broke yesterday, she left a message saying: "I love you so much and just can't believe this happening. You have made me so happy and we have had so many happy memories together which will never be forgotten. I love you always x x x x x x x x x x RIPxx"

The soldier's sister Hannah said: "thanks to all i no he will greatly appreciate them all! i love you brother and always will! rest in peace i was lucky to have you in my life. all my love now and forever more xxxxxx"

Friend Sean Jono Johnson said: "This is the hardest thing I've ever had to write.

"You were so much more than my mate, you were my brother, OUR brother. You really were one of life's nice guys and it hurts so much to think of you not being there."

Phil Spindlove wrote: "You'll always be my best friend, and you'll still be my best man, me and you like it always was!"

WO1 Chant single-handedly carried a colleague to safety earlier this year after his leg was blown of in a bomb attack, the Sun reported.

Grenadier Guardsman, Scott Blaney told the newspaper: "Drill sergeant Daz Chant put me on his shoulders and ran more than a mile to the point where the chopper had flown to evacuate me. I owe him everything."

The soldier was reportedly on a shortlist of just three to become the Academy Sergeant Major at Sandhurst military college and was known as 'Big Guy' because of his more than 6ft tall frame and big build.

Sergeant Matthew Telford, from Grimsby, leaves two young sons, aged four and nine and his wife Kerry.

His family said that he had been in the war-torn country since September 20 and his job was training Afghan forces.

His uncle, William Ferrand, told the BBC: "It was his job and he absolutely loved it.

"Everybody knows what a wonderful lad he was. It has devastated all of us.

"His two sons are going to be devastated and will miss their father," Mr Ferrand said. "Whatever Kerry wants, we will as a family make sure we do as much as we can to help her.

"We're a military family, but he was the first one to join at the age of 16."

Asked about his thoughts on Sgt Telfords deployment to Afghanistan, he said: "Nobody wants their family to go out there but it was what he wanted to do."

Mr Ferrand said his sons served in Afghanistan and Sgt Telford had been on other operational tours.