Tributes poured in today for a Shropshire marine who was killed by a 13-year-old suspected suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

Marine Damian Davies, 27, from Telford, died along with colleagues Sergeant John Manuel and recently married Corporal Marc Birch in Helmand Province on Friday.

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Colleagues described him as “professional and dedicated”, while friends paid tribute on a special page set up on social networking site Facebook. 

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Commanding Officer Colonel Andy Maynard said: “The Commando spirit resonates in every recollection of Marine Damian Davies. His courage was resolute as his tragic death in the front line is testament to.”

His Squadron Commander Major Marcus Taylor added: “Marine Davies was always at the forefront of activity and the first to volunteer from his troop no matter how difficult or dangerous the mission.”

Corporal Ben Parks and Marine Lee Douglas said: “Damo was always talking of his wife Joanne and son Matthew; he loved and adored them with all his heart and what a huge heart he had.”

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to update MPs this afternoon on the security situation in Afghanistan, following his weekend trip to visit UK troops. Meanwhile, defence ministers doubled the maximum compensation for personnel injured in service from £285,000 to £570,000.