SOLDIER Brett Walmsley was laid to rest by his family and girlfriend.

The ashes of the 25-year-old from Greenway Street in Darwen, who was killed in a suspected hit-and-run accident in Greece, were buried at Darwen Cemetery in an intimate ceremony on Thursday.

Lance Bombardier Brett was struck by a car on July 13 when he was crossing a country road in Halkidiki.

Brett was on a break from serving six months in Kosovo when the crash occurred.

The former Darwen Moorland pupil had volunteered for deployment to Kosovo, where he had been working with NATO peacekeepers, and was due for promotion to bombardier when the tragedy occurred.

Brett had previously been deployed on operations to Iraq and Northern Ireland, as well as on exercises to Oman, Germany, Kuwait and Canada.

He was given a funeral with full military honours by fellow soldiers from the 47th Royal Artillery regiment at the end of July.

After the funeral Brett's parents Stuart and Olwen kept his ashes at the family home until all the family could attend the burial.

The Army will be planting a dedication willow to Brett at his base.

A 22-year-old Greek man has been arrested in connection with the incident.