A KIDDERMINSTER soldier killed in Afghanistan will no longer be honoured in the town with a civic memorial service after individual military tributes were scrapped.

The memorial service was going to be organised so the town could pay its respects to Lance Corporal Richard Brandon, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in September last year.

But the town’s Charter Trustees decided against holding another commemorative service for soldiers who have a full military funeral, at its meeting last month.

A family member could, instead, take part in the town’s Remembrance Day service, when the candle of peace is lit and the names of soldiers who have died would be read out.

L/Cpl Brandon’s fiancee, Emma-Jayne Webster, said she was not informed that the service would not be going ahead and was upset by the decision.

“I’m a bit disappointed but I’m OK that there will be a service to remember all the soldiers who have died, “ she told The Shuttle. She added that her family, including their daughter, Kaitlin and her sons, Martyn Raszke and Liam Raszke-Webster, would set off Chinese lanterns to remember the 24-year-old on the anniversary of his death.

The couple, who were engaged for 18 months, were planning to get married next month after four and a half years together.

Ms Webster said the family had now moved from Broom Crescent into the house L/Cpl Brandon had left her, in Winterfold Close.

“We’re all settled in and the kids are a lot happier,” she said.