A HEREFORDSHIRE soldier who was shot dead during an ambush in Afghanistan had been ordered not to wear body armour or a helmet, an inquest heard today.

Lance Corporal Steven Sherwood, 23, and his comrades were told to wear only webbed-vests, without helmets and body armour, so as not to appear 'intimidating' to the Afghans, a coroner was told.

Lance Cpl Sherwood, an infantryman from Herefordshire, was killed nearly two years ago when a lone-gunman emerged from a kiosk and opened fire on his unarmoured Toyota Landcruiser.

After Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on the death of Mr Sherwood - known as Shirley - his parents spoke out about the lack of protection afforded to their son.

Alan Sherwood, a 49-year-old electrician, said: "We think ourselves lucky, because the young man who shot our son was condemned to death, although that has now been commuted to life imprisonment on appeal.

"At the time we were very, very angry about the lack of body armour being worn, but the army have explained that it was a low-threat area. We are also pleased to see armour is being worn now and hope it will continue to be.

"We were somewhat saddened that the army had to use hire-vehicles, even though our son was not inside one of those.

"Steven should be remembered as being full of life, and as a great sportsman who was loved by his friends and family. The best son in the world."