Mourners pay their final respects to Matthew Hatton at York Minster (From York Press)

Mourners pay their final respects to Matthew Hatton at York Minster

3:10pm Wednesday 2nd September 2009 in

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MOURNERS gathered into York Minster to pay their final respects to York war hero Matthew Hatton.

Hundreds of people gathered inside and outside the church, where a service of thanksgiving was held for the 23-year-old, ahead of a private funeral service in Haxby.

Lance Bombardier Hatton became the first York soldier to die in Afghanistan, when he was caught in a double-explosion in Helmand province on August 13.

At today's service, the congregation sang I Vow to Thee My Country, The Lord is My Shepherd and Jerusalem, while an excerpt from John 14 was read.

Ahead of the service, standard-bearers and members of the public lined the streets, as the cortège was driven through Monk Bar and along Goodramgate and Deangate to the South Entrance of the Minster.