A HEAVY silence fell on Wootton Bassett as the bodies of fallen troops passed through the town once more.

Townspeople and servicemen stood side by side with grief stricken families and friends of Captain Tom Sawyer of the Royal Artillery, Corporal Danny Winter of the Royal Marines and Marine Travis Mackin.

Hundreds of people waited for more than an hour for the solemn bell toll, signalling the passage of their bodies yesterday.

Roses rested on top of all three Union Jack draped coffins and a teddy bear was placed at the side of one.

Marine Mackin, 22, from Plymouth, with the Communications Squadron, United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group died on January 11 after being hit by an explosive device in Afghanistan.

The deaths of Captain Sawyer, 26, from Hertfordshire, and Corporal Winter, 28, from Stockport, are under investigation because it is suspected that they may have been killed in a ‘friendly fire’ incident in the Helmand Province.

Wootton Bassett Mayor Mike Leighfield said: “We are only giving five minutes of our time but they give their lives.

“We come here simply to pay our respects to these troops who are in a foreign country doing a job which I don’t think I could do.”

Former serviceman Bill Roberts said: “I feel great sadness. It must be horrendous in Afghanistan in that heat wearing heavy armour.

“Showing our respect is the least we can do.”