A second victim of the Iraq war is to be given a military funeral in North Yorkshire.

Royal Marine Christopher Maddison is to be laid to rest with full military honours at Scarborough's Parish Church of St Mary on Wednesday.

It comes days after 3,000 people turned out to attend the funeral inSkipton of another Royal Marine who was killed in the war, Captain Philip Guy.

Marine Maddison, who was 24, spent many years living in Guisborough before he and his family moved to Scarborough.

He was serving with 539 Assault Squadron when he was killed in action during an ambush near a crossing point on the River Zubayr, in southern Iraq.

The service will take place on Wednesday, and will be followed by a cremation at Woodlands.

Former schoolfriends and colleagues from the Royal Marines will act as pallbearers.

Mr Maddison's mother and stepfather, Julie and Tony, run a hotel at Peasholm Park, Scarborough.

Tony said yesterday: "Many of Christopher's old schoolfriends say they are going to the service and we have been overwhelmed by the number of cards and letters we have received."

Marine Maddison was based at Plymouth and had been in the Royal Marines for five years. He had had been serving on the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean.

The service will be conducted by the Reverend Martyn Dunning, the priest in charge at St Mary's, and by the Reverend Kathryn Jackson, of St Columba's Church.

14/04/2003