FRIENDS and family said goodbye to a 'hero' at the funeral of a teenage soldier.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at St John's Methodist Church, Albert Road, for the funeral of Colne Private Craig Lee Warren, 19, who was run over on a motorway in Cyprus, where he was stationed with the First Battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

He was given full military honours for the funeral and his younger brother Shaun, who has just completed basic training, walked in front of the coffin carrying a wreath.

Craig's company commander Major Ian Reeves paid tribute to a young man who 'seized every moment'.

He said: "Craig knew from day one why he wanted to join the army and he made the most of it. He enjoyed the challenge and the adventure. He was one of those who would volunteer for anything and he had only been in the battalion a few short months when he volunteered to go to the Falklands."

Major Reeves added: "We lost Craig too early. What he showed us every day was to make the most of it and seize every moment.

"Craig would never have said it to himself but he lived by certain values.

"He lived with self-discipline, he understood respect and duty.

Craig's friends Jodie Hargreaves and Caroline Gore read the poem Footprints while pal Katie Cruz fought back tears as she read a poem she had written in memory of Craig.

One line read: "You are a hero and forever will be in my heart and my mind 'til eternity."

Craig's coffin, draped in the Union Flag, was carried out to the sound of I Vow To Thee My Country being played on the organ.

He was cremated at Walton Lane Cemetery in Nelson.