HUNDREDS of people gathered today to pay their respects to an Army bomb disposal expert who died in Afghanistan.

Sapper David Watson, of the 33 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, was killed by a roadside bomb on New Years Eve.

Hundreds of mourners lined the High Street of the soldiers home town of Whickham, near Gateshead.

As Sapper Watson's family, including parents John and Anne, walked on foot behind the hearse carrying his coffin, veterans formed a standard party outside the Church of St Mary the Virgin.

The 23-year-old was killed helping to clear improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the area surrounding Patrol Base Blenheim, close to Sangin in Helmand province.

It was Sapper Watson's first operational tour.

His family said Sapper Watson, who was based at Carver Barracks in Wimbish, Essex, had been living his dream.

And his brothers in arms - to whom he was known as The Leg, in reference to his exceptional physical fitness and size - said he was a remarkable soldier.

In a statement following his death, his family said: "He always managed to achieve above and beyond the goals that he set for himself, often going that extra mile to achieve beyond the bounds of what was expected of him.

"He lived his dream and did what a true soldier is ready to do for his country, a true hero."

Major Richard Hawkins, Royal Engineers, Officer Commanding 49 Field Squadron (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), said: "Sapper Watson's vital work clearing mines and unexploded bombs throughout Helmand province has undoubtedly saved the lives of countless soldiers and local civilians.

"No other job more directly represents the commitment of the British Army to Isaf's mission in creating a safer environment for the people of Afghanistan and he was immensely proud of his role.

"Sapper Watson's death is a tragic loss to his family, friends and brothers in arms, but it has also strengthened the squadron's resolve to finish the job in hand.

"It was an honour to have served on operations with Sapper Watson and he will never be forgotten."

Improvised explosive devices are one of the greatest threats to British troops in Afghanistan.

They are thought to have caused about three-quarters of the UK deaths in the country last year.

Speaking ahead of the funeral, Lieutenant Colonel Dave Southall, commanding officer of Sapper Watson's regiment, said: "He was quite simply a remarkable soldier.

"He was known for two key characteristics.

"First, his physical prowess. He was a commando-trained, bomb disposal-trained, parachute-trained young sapper.

"He had excelled at the most arduous and testing military courses.

"Equally, he was a man of exceptional modesty and very self-effacing, confident and quiet and very unassuming and just simply a great character."