Hundreds of mourners lined the streets yesterday to pay tribute to four fallen soldiers - including three special forces heroes who died in a single explosion in Afghanistan.

Parachute Regiment heroes Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins, 23, Private Kyle Adams, 21, and Corporal Kevin Mulligan, 26, were killed when a bomb tore through their armoured Jackal vehicle in Lashkar Gah on August 6.

It is understood they belonged to the Special Forces Support Group, which was formed in 2006 to assist SAS and Special Boat Service missions.

Shortly after their deaths, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth paid tribute to the ''highly gifted'' Paras and said the loss was a ''heavy blow''.

They were repatriated yesterday along with Private Jason Williams, 23, of Worcester, who served with 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment.

He died a hero after standing on a roadside bomb near Gereshk in Helmand Province on August 8 as he tried to retrieve a fallen Afghan comrade.

Relatives of the men wept and threw red roses as their coffins were driven through the centre of Wootton Bassett, Wilts., in a solemn procession of hearses.

Their bodies were flown into nearby RAF Lyneham aboard a C-17 Globemaster at around 11am.

After a fly-by and memorial service at the base, a solemn procession of hearses then made its way along the A3102 towards Wootton Bassett.

The High Street was brought to a silent standstill at around 2pm as the four coffins - draped with Union flags - were paraded slowly past.

Preceded by a police escort, the hearses stopped for a minute's silence at the town's war memorial where regimental banners were lowered and church bells rang in respect.

Residents and veterans from the Royal British Legion stood side-by-ide as the hearse continued up the High Street en route to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Among the mourners was Wootton Bassett resident Tony Perkins, 76, who has attended every repatriation through the town.

''It's terribly saddening to see such a loss of young lives. We are very appreciative of the sacrifice the servicemen and women of this country are making.

''I've been to every repatriation and it doesn't get any easier.''

Brian Mitchell, 67, from Trowbridge, Wilts., who has attended more than 100 repatriations, said he was ''touched'' by yesterday's repatriation.

''I've come here to show my support for this generation of soldiers, I lost a close friend myself when he was shot next to me,'' he said.

''The army is like one big family so seeing these soldiers die feels like losing someone you know.

''That's why it's important to show your respects and today was a very emotional and moving experience for me.''