HEARTBROKEN relatives of soldiers killed in Afghanistan by a bomb dropped by a US plane said they would live for ever with the effects of the tragedy.

Privates Aaron McClure, 19, Robert Foster, 19, and John Thrumble, 21, were killed when a 500lb bomb was dropped on their position by a US F15 instead of on a Taleban position half a mile away.

Pte Thrumble grew up in Westborough Road, Westcliff, and went to Westborough Primary School before his family, including mum Pearl and dad Steve, moved to Maldon.

Yesterday Coroner David Masters recorded a narrative verdict at an inquest into the deaths and said he would make six recommendations to the Ministry of Defence to help prevent such incidents.

In a statement on behalf of their families, tributes were paid to the young men and to Corporal Stuart Parker and Private Joshua Lee, who survived the blast but still live with the effects of the incident.

The statement said: “Today sees the end of a heartbreaking journey that began for us all on August 23, 2007, when we heard we had lost our darling sons.

“Although this is end of the inquest, there will never be closure or a return to the way things were for us as families or for Corporal Stuart Parker and Private Josh Lee, who will also live for ever with the effects of this incident.”

The soldiers from B-Company, 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment were under intense fire in Helmand province when the incident occured.

The inquest heard co-ordinates communicated between an air controller and an American weapons officer did not marry up before the bomb was dropped. Pte McClure came from Ipswich and Pte Foster was from Harlow.