The bodies of five British soldiers, including one based at Hullavington, who died in Afghanistan within a week of each other will be repatriated to the UK today.

Private Lewis Hendry, Private Conrad Lewis, Private Robert Wood, Private Dean Hutchinson and Lance Corporal Kyle Marshall will be flown into RAF Lyneham.

Private services will be held for the soldiers' families at the base before the cortege passes through nearby Wootton Bassett.

Pte Hendry, of 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, and Pte Lewis, of 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, were shot as they patrolled an area in the north of Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province on February 9.

Pte Wood and Pte Hutchinson, both of the Royal Logistic Corps, were killed in a fire at Camp Bastion - the main British military base in Afghanistan - on February 14.

The cause of the fire, which took place in the workplace, is under investigation but is not thought to be the result of enemy action.

Pte Hutchinson, 23, known as "Hutch", was a driver with the Theatre Logistic Group's Transport Troop, based at Hullavington.

His family described him as "an amazing son, brother and boyfriend".

L/Cpl Marshall, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was killed on the same day in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj district.

Hundreds of people are expected to join their families and friends as they line Wootton Bassett High Street, as has become custom.

Tributes have been paid to the men whose deaths took the number of UK military personnel who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 357.

Pte Hendry, who was born in Norwich and died just three days before his 21st birthday, was said by his parents to have had a "true heart of gold" and a smile which "lit up every room he walked into".

Pte Lewis, 22, from Bournemouth, was described by his family as someone who "made you feel good about life".

They had been on a foot patrol designed to reassure the local population and gather census information in a small village north of the Nahr-e Bughra Canal when they came under fire.

Pte Wood, 28, who was nicknamed "Woody", had recently become a father to Noah, and was looking forward to returning home to Marchwood in Hampshire after his tour of duty.

His parents and partner, Rebecca, said: "Rob was an adored and adoring son, partner, and father to his baby son.

"We are so immensely proud of him and he will live in our hearts forever."

L/Cpl Marshall, 23, from Newcastle, leaves his father Garry, mother Olywn and fiancee Hayley, whom he was due to marry in July after the tour.

His family said he was "a very lively, outgoing, loving and much-loved son" who would be sadly missed.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison said L/Cpl Marshall had led his team in the discovery of a "huge bomb-making factory" just minutes before his death.

"This discovery will undoubtedly save numerous colleagues and locals falling prey to the most insidious of insurgent threats," he added.