THE Army has paid tribute to a soldier who died in a road accident only 48 hours after he returned from service in Iraq.

Lance Corporal Mark Dixon, 22, was yesterday described as brave, determined and extremely popular.

As reported in The Northern Echo on Saturday, L Cpl Dixon died on Friday after his car veered off the road in Bearpark, County Durham, and crashed into a grass embankment and metal fencing.

He was found lying near the vehicle and was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

More details have now emerged about L Cpl Dixon, from South View, in Meadowfield, Durham.

He was in the 1st Battalion the Scots Guards and joined the regiment in August 2000.

L Cpl Dixon moved to the close reconnaissance team after he initially served with one of the rifle companies. He had qualified as a light tank driver and had also served in Northern Ireland. He arrived in the UK on Wednesday after a three-month tour of duty with his unit's reconnaissance platoon.

Captain Martin Hickie, his platoon commander, said: "Lance Corporal Mark Dixon was an extremely popular member of the Scots Guards, and particularly the reconnaissance platoon.

"His popularity stemmed from his unswerving loyalty to his friends and fellow soldiers.

"He was a brave and determined member of the company boxing team, reaching the semi-finals in the inter-company boxing championships.

"Lance Corporal Dixon had a bright future ahead of him, both as a member of the recce platoon and as a non-commissioned officer.

"He will be sadly missed by all his many friends, and our thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this time."

He leaves his parents, Julie and Anthony, and an older brother, Darren.