Tributes have been paid to an Essex soldier who volunteered to serve in Kosovo and died in the troubled area helping to keep the peace.

Trooper Adam Slater, from Felsted, who was engaged to be married, was killed on a peace-keeping mission in Kosovo on Good Friday.

He was travelling in a Scimitar armoured car when it hit an anti-tank mine.

Trooper Slater, 20, was in the 9/12 Lancers Prince of Wales Regiment in Germany and was serving with a Nato force engaged in peace keeping in south east Kosovo.

His commanding officer, Major Charles Crewdson, said the soldier was widely respected within the squadron and would often crack jokes with younger soldiers.

"He was selflessly professional and extremely popular. He always took time to talk to others and had an engaging smile and ever-buoyant outlook on life."

Major Crewdson said it was a lasting tribute to Trooper Slater that since the deployment of the force on the Macedonian border the fighting had abated and the area was returning to normality

Trooper Slater's family moved to Felsted just weeks ago and the soldier had already visited his local pub to get acquainted with villagers. His body is due to be flown home this weekend and there will be a military funeral at a date to be arranged.

His father Terry did not wish to speak about the tragedy.

Two other British soldiers were injured in the incident.

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