A FORMER school pal of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has paid his own musical tribute to his much-missed friend.

Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton was just 23 when he was killed by a roadside bomb while on foot patrol in Helmand province in August 2009.

He came from Haxby near York and had been a pupil at Easingwold School along with Jim Harbourne, now a composer and sound designer based in Edinburgh.

And to honour his old friend Jim has written and released single, Hills of Home, with all proceeds from it to go to the charity Help for Heroes.

“Matt was a friend of mine from school. He was perfectly suited to a life in the army, and was a popular and talented soldier,” said Jim.

“I wrote Hills of Home as a tribute to Matt’s memory. After I played it at a fund-raising event, friends encouraged me to record it as a way of remembering Matt – and of raising even more for Help for Heroes.”

Jim explained that while the song was upbeat, it was also full of emotion.

“Of course it’s tinged with sadness. Matt’s family and friends miss him every day,” he said.

“But he was full of energy and laughter, which is why the song is also a celebration – a chance to sing, dance and raise a glass to Matt and other brave people who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.”

Hills of Home is published through by Borrowed time Productions Ltd and is available through Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Rhapsody and Napster.