A MINUTE'S silence will be held before Wednesday's full council in remembrance of two fallen soldiers from Maidstone.

The mark of respect commemorates the sacrifice of 36 Engineer Regiment's W02 David Markland, who died on February 8 and Sapper Guy Mellors, who was killed on February 15.

Both were serving in Afghanistan.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone, Cllr Peter Parvin and Cllr Daphne Parvin, visited Wootton Bassett on Thursday, February 18 as Sapper Mellors' body was repatriated, along with four other soldiers.

Cllr Parvin said: "We went to pay our respects to the soldiers and their families on behalf of the people of Maidstone and to show our complete support for the members of the armed forces who are still fighting."

The Mayor and Mayoress have written to Wootten Bassett Town Council to express the thanks of the council for the way in which the town has honoured those killed in Afghanistan, including four soldiers from 36 Engineer Regiment and Captain Babington-Browne who was from Maidstone.

The Mayor added: "People lined the town's streets, despite heavy rain, to pay tribute to those who had given their lives in the service of our country; as the hearses approached, church bells tolled and immediately the whole town fell completely silent."