COMRADES will bid an emotional farewell to fallen soldier and city police community support officer Mark Marshall at his funeral.

Up to 500 mourners will pack Belmont Chapel, in Western Way, Exeter, for the service on Friday.

And scores of people are expected to line the city's streets to pay their respects to the popular PCSO as the hearse carrying his body is driven through Exeter.

The 29-year-old Territorial Army soldier, of 6th Battalion The Rifles based at Wyvern Barracks in Exeter, was killed in an explosion while on a routine foot patrol near Forward Operating Base Inkerman in Helmand province last month.

For full story, see today's Echo.