A ROYAL NAVY hero who served in Afghanistan has been killed in a road crash weeks before being decorated for his role in the conflict.

Christopher Winthrop, 24, whose parents, Linda and Doug Winthrop, live in Bensham, Gateshead, died from head injuries on the A34 Newbury bypass, near Oxford. Three of his friends suffered minor injuries.

Mr Winthrop was a front seat passenger in his best friend's Citroen car when it crashed into the back of a truck pulling out of a lay-by.

It is thought Mr Winthrop, 6ft 4in, suffered the brunt of the impact when the car turned over, because of his height. His parents and their other son, Neil, 20, spoke of their pride for Mr Winthrop, who served as a marine engineer mechanic on the Royal Navy minesweeper Walney.

Mrs Winthrop, 52, said: "He had been home for the weekend and had set off from Tyneside five minutes after midnight to go back to his ship at Portsmouth.

"There were four of them in the car, all from Tyneside. Christopher was sitting in the front, next to his friend and shipmates."

His friends returned to Tyneside for his funeral service at Gateshead's Saltwell Crematorium.