THE parents, comrades and friends of York war hero Ashley David Smith have been paying tribute to the 21-year-old, after he died in Afghanistan.

Mum Sandra, 59, of Acomb, said today: "We are all so proud of him. He died to protect others. He was such a thoughtful and lovely boy."

Trooper Smith, from The Royal Dragoon Guards, Viking Group, D (The Green Horse) Squadron, was serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South).

He was providing security to his colleagues during a task to improve the field of view around a Check Point when he was struck by an explosion.

Mrs Smith said today: "I spoke to him three days before he died. He phoned me because he knew I'd be worried.

"He told me to calm down, everything was fine and he was all right. That was on Monday, then on Friday afternoon I got a call from my husband asking me to come home because the MOD were there.

"I knew straight away, I think we all did."

Meanwhile more than 400 people have joined a Facebook page dedicated to the memory of Trooper Smith, and it has been inundated with emotional tributes.

It was set up by a friend who described the 21-year-old as “an amazing person, a great soldier and a brilliant friend” and “one of the kindest people I have ever met”.

Messages of sorrow and condolence began appearing on the site within hours of his death being announced.