A RUNCORN soldier who was killed while serving in Iraq has been remembered by teachers at his old school.

Lance Corporal Paul Farrelly was killed by a roadside bomb that also killed one other solider in an area of Basra last month.

The 28-year-old was a former pupil at The Heath School in Halton Lodge and staff at the school have already paid tribute to a 'great lad' who was well liked by staff and pupils alike.

John Dover, who taught him for five years, remembers Paul as a young boy who had ambitions to one day serve his country in the Army.

When he finally joined the Army in 2002, he was spotted as a natural talent and was named as top recruit after his training.

Mr Dover, who is the head of the graphics department, said: "I remember having a chat with him because I have relations in the Army and we ended up chatting for one and a half hours.

"He was destined to go far."

The school will be paying its respects to Lance Corporal Farrelly during the school's assemblies and will be talking to pupils who are thinking of going into the armed forces and have taken part in Army training sessions that the school organises with the help of the Army.