The parents of an RAF serviceman killed when the Hercules plane he was captaining crashed in Iraq laid a wreath at a moving memorial service.

Flight Lieutenant David Stead, from Burley-in-Wharfedale, was one of ten men killed when their aircraft came down in the desert near Baghdad on January 30.

On Sunday, his parents Richard and Pauline, members of his former Air Cadet squadron and members of the public gathered at the village's cenotaph to pay tribute to the 35-year-old.

Flt Lt Stead was a model Cadet for five years at the 1224 Wharfedale squadron based in Ashlands Road, Ilkley, before studying at university and joining the RAF.

Two Cadets from the squadron played a trumpet fanfare as the gathering paid their silent respects to Flt Lt Stead.

Commanding Officer of the squadron, Flt Lt John Hitchen, read a poem dedicated to the pilot during the short service.

Flt Lt Hitchen added: "We all have some very happy memories of David that can never be taken away."

Warrant Officer David Wood said: "We all thought how could a conflict so far across the world possibly affect our lives? We were wrong.

"All who knew him expressed the dedication and commitment he showed through his career wherever he was posted. He was doing the job he loved."

Warrant Officer Wood added that Flt Lt Stead had been dubbed "the flying Tyke" by the Wharfedale squadron.

A young cadet laid a wreath at the cenotaph, which was already covered in bouquets of tribute flowers, on behalf of the squadron.

Mr Stead then placed a wreath at the landmark and stood silently for a couple of minutes before he rejoined his wife.

The body of Flt Lt Stead, who was married with two daughters, Holly and Amelia, was flown back to Britain earlier this month.

Cadets from 1224 Wharfedale squadron also paid their own special tribute to their courageous former member when they held their annual dinner at Ilkley's King's Hall on Friday.