DOZENS of people stood to attention in Headley Way to pay their respects to Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington as the solider was repatriated yesterday.

Despite bitter cold and sleet veterans, the Lord Mayor of Oxford and members of the public were determined to show their thanks to the 22-year-old for his service.

L/Cpl Hetherington, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment died on January 2 following an incident at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, in Iraq and an investigation is now under way into the circumstances.

Royal British Legion Oxfordshire vice-president Jim Lewendon was among those present as the procession carrying the soldier's body passed St Anthony of Padua Church on its way to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

He said: "It is so important to the family of the serviceman who die and it is also important to us.

"It offers some sort of comfort to the family.

"We always hope that there will not be any more repatriations but as long as there are we will be here."

When the hearse and the rest of the procession passed St Anthony of Padua it was the last leg of a journey that began when an aircraft carrying L/Cpl Hetherington's remains landed at RAF Brize Norton at about 1.30pm yesterday afternoon.

The procession then passed the memorial garden at the base and through Carterton before travelling up the A40 to Oxford.

Parade marshal and former Parachute Regiment solider Graham Whelan has been present at every repatriation that has passed through Oxford during British operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He said: "We do this for the family.

"The weather isn't great but there isn't much you can do about that.

"I hope the families get something from it."

As the procession passed the church the military standards held by veterans were dipped and others present saluted as the coffin draped in a union flag passed by.

Lord Mayor Mohammed Altaf-Khan had attended many previous repatriations as a councillor, but yesterday's was his first as Lord Mayor.

He said:"It is important to show all our soldiers who are fighting for our country that we support them.

"It is also important to show support to their families."