HUNDREDS gathered yesterday to pay their last respects to teenage Army medic Eleanor Dlugosz, who died in a bomb attack in Iraq.

A horse-drawn carriage carried the coffin of 19-year-old Pte Dlugosz to the medieval Parish Church of St Peter in Bishop's Waltham.

Pte Dlugosz was in a Warrior armoured vehicle returning from a patrol when insurgents detonated a roadside bomb on April 5, killing her and three comrades.

The funeral cortege slowly made its way through Pte Dlugosz's nearby home village of Swanmore before it arrived at the church.

The Union flag-draped coffin was then lifted and taken into the church by eight colleagues from her regiment, the Royal Army Medical Corps, in a ceremony with full military honours.

Proud Pte Dlugosz's mother Sally Veck said before the funeral that her daughter had made everyone proud.

Pte Dlugosz had been deployed to the Shaibah Logistic Base in November last year and returned to Iraq in March after completing a medical course in the UK.

Second Lieutenant Joanna Yorke Dyer, 24, who was a friend of Prince William, Corporal Kris O'Neill, 27, Kingsman Adam James Smith, 19, and a Kuwaiti interpreter also died in the blast.

Pte Dlugosz's troop commander, Second Lieutenant Vinny Ramshaw, said: "Pte Dlugosz was a strong and morally courageous young woman, who was an example to many older and more experienced soldiers.

Dedicated "Supremely dedicated to her work, she thoroughly enjoyed her soldiering and was keen to use her lifesaving skills as a medic to help others.'' The service was conducted by former Army chaplain the Rev John Whitton. He paid tribute to Pte Dlugosz in the packed church that was so full that mourners had to listen to the service outside in the pretty churchyard.

"The size of the congregation here and the many hundreds of cards and letters they (the family) have received is testimony to the unique life of Eleanor,'' he said.

"Her life was tragically cut short but her 19 years were lived with such an intensity and commitment that many people were touched by her zest for life.'' Mr Whitton said that Pte Dlugosz could be a shy and reserved woman, but when Army careers officers came to her school she had been captivated.

"She wanted to be in the front line,'' said Mr Whitton. "I know her family had their reservations about this but they obviously knew that you cannot stand in the way of your child's wishes."

He described Pte Dlugosz as "a bright spark with the promise of a dazzling future". He added: "We feel the sadness and loss of a young life cut tragically short.'' After the service, colleagues fired a volley of three shots. The Last Post was played and a one-minute silence observed.

The coffin was then taken from the church with Pte Dlugosz's mother and her brother Andrew, 16, at the head of the mourners.

Pte Dlugosz was then taken by hearse for a private cremation ceremony.