Hundreds of mourners gathered today at the funeral of fallen Baildon soldier Sapper Jordan Rossi, who it was said paid the “highest price” for doing the job he loved.

Sapper Rossi, 22, died when he was caught in an explosion in Sangin, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on May 23.

He had been part of a Royal Engineers search team taking part in an operation to clear improvised explosive devices, when one of them triggered, killing him.

Before the service, uniformed soldiers carrying rifles performed a military drill, while war veterans raised Royal Engineers flags.

Sapper Rossi’s coffin, draped in a union flag, and adorned with poppies and a cap, was carried into the full-to-capacity Saltaire United Reformed Church, by members of his regiment.

Mourners inside the church, and scores more silently listening to the service from a speaker system outside, heard emotional tributes paid to the young soldier by friends and family.

Army chaplain Padre David Adams, who is based at Catterick Garrison, read a tribute from Sapper Rossi’s mother Theresa, which said: “I love you son. I hold you and your happiness in my heart each and every day.

“I am so proud of you and so thankful for the years you have given me.

“If I had the chance to be anything, there is nothing I would rather be than your parent and no-one I would rather have as my son.”

Bradford City fan Sapper Rossi, of 38 Engineer Regiment, worked as a builder when he left school before joining the Army in 2006. He was known to friends simply as “Rossi”.

Padre Adams said: “Jordan was immensely proud to be a Sapper, as he should be.

“Theresa said to me it was as if he had grown in pride and confidence, so that he almost glowed with pride.”

The eulogy, read by Major Malcolm Gill, Officer Commanding for the regiment, described him as an “exuberant and fun-loving” soldier.

He said: “For those of us privileged enough to have known Rossi, and honoured sufficiently to serve alongside him, we will be forever thankful that he lit up our lives.”

He said Sapper Rossi “made the worst of situations bearable for those around him”.

He added: “As he lay mortally wounded on that fateful evening he even managed to joke about going for a curry in Bradford.”

Sapper Rossi’s friend Simon Rose described him as generous and loyal.

He said: “He always had a smile on his face, anyone who was with him had a smile on his face.”

Padre Adams said Sapper Rossi’s time in the Army would have required “courage, skill and determination in the most challenging of conditions”.

He said: “Soldiers such as Jordan do this day in, day out with little regard for themselves and with a great deal of good humour.

“I believe that he and they can truly be called heroes.

“Sadly, as we know, some like Jordan pay the highest price.”

The service included the song Hero, by the X Factor finalists, which was released last year to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity.

Sapper Rossi was buried at Nab Wood Cemetery, Shipley.