THE family of a British soldier who died in a car crash during a two-week leave from serving his country have been presented with his service medals.

Lance Corporal Lee Duffin, 24, of Euxton near Chorley, died in a crash near Lincoln last April between serving in Iraq and being deployed to Canada.

Mr Duffin, who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), had returned from operations in Basra and was about to be deployed to an army training base in Canada.

The crash happened after his BMW collided with two other cars on the A57 at Saxilby, near Lincoln, on April 3 last year.

A Lincoln coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death at an inquest hearing in October.

At a ceremony at the TA centre in Canterbury Street, Blackburn, his mum Julie, dad Alan and brother Kyle, 19, were presented with his Iraq Medal and Bosnia Medal by squadron commander Major David Catmur, in recognition of his tours in both countries.

The family were joined by four of Lee's army friends who had travelled from their base in Germany for the celebration of his achievements.

Mr Duffin, a former pupil at Balshaws High School, Leyland, was serving with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment at the time of his death.

Mum Julie said: "Lee loved the army life. He joined the cadets at 14 and never looked back. It was all he ever wanted to do.

"This last year has been a difficult time for all of our family, but we have been astounded by the support we have received from the army and all of his friends.

"I am extremely grateful to them all."

Major Bart Cookson, Lee's squadron leader, said: "Lance Corporal Duffin's death was a real blow to the squadron with which he had fought with distinction in Iraq.

"He is missed by all of his friends in the regiment.

"The army has lost a soldier with a promising career ahead of him. Our thoughts are with his family."