The bodies of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan will be returned to the John Radcliffe Hospital tomorrow.

Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe MBE, 39, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Guards, who lived in Kirtlington, was the highest-ranking British Army officer to be killed in action since the Falklands conflict when he died in an explosion on Wednesday.

Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was also killed in the incident in Helmand province. The army cortege carrying their bodies is expected at the hospital at about 2.30pm.