Hundreds attend marine's funeral

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More than 400 mourners have attended the funeral at a small church in Snowdonia of a Royal Marine killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

L/Cpl Robert Martin Richards, 24, from Conwy, was flown to the UK after he was injured last month but he later died.

The marine's coffin was taken to the church at Penmachno in a horse-drawn hearse and marines formed a guard of honour as it was carried inside.

His commanding officer described the marine as "just outstanding".

Outside the church, Major Jez Stemp offered his condolences to the lance corporal's family and said: "Robbo was a massive character and I had the pleasure of serving with him in Afghanistan last year for six months.

"He was just the epitome of a Royal Marine commando. Cheerful in the face of adversity and just a really good guy.

L/Cpl Richards was described as an "enormous character"

"There was nothing that he wasn't prepared to do. Any time he had any down time he was there helping his friends, helping his colleagues and always giving the best service that he could to his country."

The marine's coffin was draped in a Union flag with a Welsh dragon wreath on top as it was carried into St Tudclud church by fellow marines.

His father Rich led the mourners.

A video screen and speakers were set up in a nearby field to relay the service to the hundreds of mourners standing outside in the rain.

The church where the service took place had been closed for 12 years before it was last opened for the funeral of L/Cpl Richards' grandfather in 2007.

L/Cpl Robert Richards was serving with the Royal Marine armoured support group when he was injured.

He died in hospital in Birmingham a few days after his Viking vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

Known to many of his friends by his nickname of Rambo, and to his family as Martin, the unmarried Royal Marines commando had been on his second tour in Afghanistan.