The Queen has paid her personal tributes to the bravery of a hero Bradford paratrooper as she presented a posthumous George Medal to his parents.

Private Martin Bell, 24, was killed in an explosion as he rescued a badly-injured comrade from earlier blasts as his patrol were on mine-clearing duties in Afghanistan last year.

His parents Elaine and Simon Bell were at Buckingham Palace today to receive the posthumous award for their son.

Also with them at the private ceremony in the State Room were his two brothers, 28-year-old Oliver and 23-year-old Phillip, both wearing Parachute Regiment ties in his memory.

Pte Bell, of Idle, who was a police community support officer in the Worth Valley before joining the paras, had disobeyed his commander’s orders by going back to rescue his friend Private Scott Meenagh.

After receiving the medal from the Queen, Pte Bell’s father, Simon, said: “To say I’m proud and honoured would be the understatement of the year.

“These past 15 months since Martin died have been an incredible journey and it’s not over yet. He has touched so many lives and left a loving impression on so many. The Queen had read his citation and said how incredible and brave he was, to hear her say those words was wonderful and fills a little of the big gap be has left behind. So many people are remembering him in so many ways that it is a comfort to us.”

Pte Bell had been one of the lead men using mine sweepers to check for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the day he died. Pte Bell, of C Company 2 Para, was one of the lead men using mine-sweepers to check for IEDs on the day he died in Helmand in January last year.

After Private Scott Meenagh stood on an IED losing his legs, Pte Bell returned to retrieve vital equipment to stop it falling into enemy hands. But as they started to move back another device went off causing Pte Meenagh even more grievous injuries and Pte Bell and his commander were both blown off their feet.

Pte Bell treated Pte Meenagh but triggered a third IED as he pulled the stretcher up a steep bank. It was not an isolated act of courage or the first time Pte Bell’s valour had saved lives. On January 6, 2011, he had identified and coolly confirmed a 20- kilogram IED in complex terrain within a nearby school.

During his tour he had also “gained an extraordinary reputation for being the most courageous and clear-thinking of soldiers” said the citation.

The Bells have stayed in touch with Pte Meenagh. Mr Bell said: “Scott is snowboarding somewhere in Germany at the moment.

“He is living life to the full now, doing everything with twice as much determination and enthusiasm and twice as fast. He’s been through so much, not just losing his legs but he was on Martin’s back when Martin died. He’s living two lives now and one of those is for Martin.”