FLORAL tributes have been laid at a Warminster church in memory of a young Black Watch soldier who was killed in Iraq on Thursday.

Private Marc Ferns, 21, died in a roadside bomb blast while on a routine exercise protecting British troops in Basra.

He was driving a Warrior armoured vehicle when he was caught in the explosion, which killed him instantly and left another Warminster soldier badly injured. His body was flown black to Britain on Wednesday and a small ceremony involving a general was carried out as the coffin was brought off the plane.

Friends and colleagues have laid more than 15 tributes to Pte Ferns at the Garrison church of St Giles in Imber Road, Warminster.

Among the cards, a message from Bob and Lisa Smith reads: "One of our best friends. Our hearts are broken. Always in our thoughts."

Another from Captain and Mrs Neil Tormlin said: "Private Marc Ferns, we are saddened by your death. May you rest in peace."

Pte Ferns came from Glenrothes, Fife and was on his second tour of duty for the Black Watch in Iraq after fighting in the war last spring.

Lieutenant Colonel James Cowan, the commanding officer of the Black Watch, said: "Marc Ferns died as a result of enemy action.

"His tragic death has saddened and shocked the Battalion. Pte Ferns had loyally served the Black Watch for three years and had a bright future ahead of him.

"He was an experienced, committed, professional and very popular soldier who will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Our sympathies and thoughts are with his family at this time."

Pte Ferns leaves a one-year-old daughter Amy and her mother Ann Fury, 20.

Last week Pte Ferns' mother Christine Morgan, 48, called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw British troops from Iraq before any more were killed.

She said: "Get them home. They are a peacekeeping force, they are supposed to have handed over to Iraq's own forces.

"How many more? It is 64 just now I do not want that number to go any higher."

Her plea came just four days before another British soldier, Lance Corporal Paul Thomas from the 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment, was killed in action in Basra.

Pte Ferns' colleague Sergeant Kevin Stacey, 26, is believed to have undergone life-saving surgery for a head injury in a US military hospital in Kuwait after Thursday's bomb blast. His mother Sharon and wife Diane flew out to be at his bedside.

Sgt Stacey was expected to be flown back to Britain early yesterday before being transferred to a specialist head injuries unit in Birmingham.