The 20-year-old paratrooper was buried at St James's church following a funeral procession which brought the town centre to a standstill as residents lined High Street and Market Hill, shops were closed and police blocked the roads.

Soldiers formed a guard of honour along Park Lane before Pte Doherty's coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was brought to the church in a horse-drawn carriage followed by the soldier's family, friends, members of his regiment and of Southam's branch of the Royal British Legion.

And the sound of Sting's remembrance ballad Fields of Gold could be heard as the mourners entered the church.

One onlooker, Southam resident Mary Keane, said: "It was a remarkable show of respect for a very brave and courageous young man and for all those who serve.

"It's nice to see a very good turnout for him."

Another, who declined to be named, said: "It was heart warming and heart wrenching - So many young people came to show their respect.

"It was lovely to see all those people following the cortege and showing their love and respect and it was very personal with the horse and carriage."

Pte Doherty of the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, died alongside Cpl James Bateman in a firefight in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on June 12.

His colleagues have said the former Southam College pupil "died placing others first".

Commanding officers have described him as "a morale tonic who could lift the veil of darkness from any bleak moment" and "an exceptionally fit and strong paratrooper intent on making every moment count".

Another who came to show respect was 85-year-old Second World War veteran John Tandy, who fought with the 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry and received medals for serving in Italy and Palestine during the conflict.

He said: "This is the sort of thing we should do to show support for our boys.

"It was a fitting tribute to the lad and his family."

Pte Doherty was the 102nd British soldier to die in Afghanistan and one of nine to have been killed during a ten-day period in June.

He lived with his father in Southam and leaves a younger brother and three sisters.

In a statement his family called him a "wonderful hero".