SHOCKED family and friends last night paid tribute to the Royal Military Policemen stationed at Catterick Garrison who were killed in an ambush in Iraq.

They revealed how one was about to become a father for the second time, and how the other had grown up in the County Durham countryside and whose favourite hobby was walking in Weardale.

Warrant Officer Colin Wall and Major Matthew Titchener, both based at the North Yorkshire garrison, were killed when their civilian 4X4 was attacked on Saturday. A third military policeman also died in the attack.

WO Wall, from Middleton One Row, near Darlington, was described by neighbours and family as "a splendid family man".

His mother, Joan, and father, Barry, who live at Crook, County Durham, said his passions outside the Army were his family, walking his dogs, and tinkering with, and restoring, cars.

They said: "Colin was a loving son and we are very proud of him.

"He loved his family and enjoyed spending time walking in Weardale."

The 34-year-old grew up in the tiny County Durham village of Crawley Side, near Stanhope, and attended Wolsingham Comprehensive School before joining the armed forces aged 17.

Childhood neighbour David Coates described him as "a lovely quiet lad". He said: "I was reading the Sunday papers when my sister rang to say one of the officers was Colin Wall.

"That's when it really struck home. You read about these things in the paper, but when it's somebody you know, it really hits you a lot more."

WO Wall, who was the company sergeant major of 150 Provost Company, was only six weeks into his four month tour of duty in Iraq.

He was married to Trish for almost eight years and they have an 11-month-old son, Alexander. He had two other children from a previous marriage to Isabella, a daughter Lauren, 12, and son Robert, 10.

Doris Jones, a Darlington councillor, and a neighbour of the family said Mrs Wall arrived home to find military personnel waiting for her.

She said: "I just can't describe how she must be feeling. It is such a waste."

It also emerged last night that the wife of 32-year-old Maj Titchener is expecting the couple's second baby.

Pregnant Raqual Titchener said her husband had been delighted he was soon to be a father for the second time.

Maj Titchener, from Southport, Merseyside, had been married for nearly six years. His wife is expecting their second child in December.

She said: "Matt was a perfect husband and a brilliant dad. He died doing a job he was proud of and was professional to the very end."

The family of Corporal Dewi Pritchard, a Territorial Army soldier from the 116 Provost Company, Royal Military Police, raised concerns about the protection given to British soldiers in Iraq.

Speaking on behalf of his widow, Tracey, and children, Kira and Ethan, who live in Brackla, Bridgend, south Wales, a family spokesman said: "The family are very concerned to understand the tragic circumstances that led to Dewi's death.

"There remain many unanswered questions concerning personal protection."

* The Red Cross said yesterday it was scaling back the number of people working in Baghdad after receiving warnings that it might be a terrorist target.