Wayne was a dedicated young man and many of his friends in and around the Gipton knew him as a good and friendly lad.

Gipton will be a proud community and will mourn the loss of one of their sons.

I lived and worked the Gipton for many years as a church community worker and can vouch that Gipton folk will forever hold a light for Wayne and his loving family.

I have four great children, all of whom I am enormously proud of. I would be shattered if one of mine lost their young life to the brutes who took Wayne's life and the lives of hundreds of others.

Rest in peace Wayne, I may be a Geordie living in Leeds but my Geordie Loiner heart will remember you for the sacrifice you give us all.

Dave Cousins, Green Court, Scholes, Leeds

l Like everyone in Leeds, we in Leeds Coalition Against the War were shocked and saddened at the death of Wayne Bland in Afghanistan.

Our sympathy goes out to Wayne's family and friends. It is more tragic because, we believe, his death could have been prevented.

British troops should never have been sent to Afghanistan in the first place, putting their lives and the lives of the Afghan population at risk.

Surely the time is right to bring all the British troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq so that no more young soldiers' lives are so tragically cut short.

Russell Whincup, on behalf of Leeds Coalition Against the War