THE BODY of the Arbroath-based Royal Marine killed in action in Afghanistan last week has been brought home.

Marine Alexander Lucas was one of three Royal Marines whose bodies were repatriated yesterday.

Under clear blue skies, families and friends gathered to receive their loved ones as an RAF C-17 brought them into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

Marine Lucas (24), from Victor Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines, was the first to be brought from the aircraft.

Marine Lucas was killed by an improvised explosive device during an operation at Kajaki on Monday, November 24. He came from Southampton and leaves a fiancee, Jill, and young daughter Cara.

His coffin was followed by those containing the bodies of marines Georgie Sparks (19), from Epping in Essex, and Tony Evans (20), from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, both of J Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, based at Bickleigh, Plymouth.

The men had been conducting a foot patrol to the north-west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province last Thursday when they were attacked by insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades.

Both received immediate medical attention and were moved to a secure location before being put on a helicopter to be transferred back to Camp Bastion. But both sadly died from their injuries during the flight.