Ukraine war: Tributes to former British soldier killed in fighting

Christopher 'Pezz' Perryman was a fourth-generation soldier

The family of a former British soldier who was killed while fighting in Ukraine said he "died protecting people that needed protecting".

Christopher Perryman, whose family lives in County Durham, was killed in October while volunteering with fighters in the war-torn country.

His mother only discovered he was fighting there after he had died.

Mr Perryman's funeral was attended by soldiers and broadcast via video link to his former unit in Ukraine.

Mr Perryman joined the British Army aged 16 and travelled to Ukraine two years ago, where he was killed in an artillery strike

Mr Perryman was a trained British Army sniper and had served in Iraq and Kosovo with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

His funeral was held in Stanley, County Durham on Thursday.

The 38-year-old, who was one of triplets, leaves behind a 11-year-old son.

Christopher's uncle said: "My heart is bursting with pain, but bursting with pride"

His uncle, Paul Perryman is calling for more support for Ukraine.

"Those lads out there have gone above and beyond," he said. "That's courage, that's real courage.

"He's a soldier through and through. He gets to go to Valhalla, he's a warrior."

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Mr Perryman's sister, Aimee Statt, said the support had been overwhelming.

"Being a triplet was hard work at times, we used to fight like cats and dogs, but we were just so close," she said.

"We were inseparable. We were best friends.

"We're no longer a trio. Family photos are never going to be the same."

Mr Perryman, pictured here with his sister Aimee and brother Anthony, was a triplet

Mr Perryman was born in Northern Ireland and moved to Stanley, County Durham

Asked what she would say to him if he were listening now, she said: "You're an absolute fool but well done kid, you've made a massive, massive difference to so many people's lives.

"That's what he wanted to do, and that's what he's done."

Christopher's father, Tony, got the call about his death in the early hours of the morning

Tony Perryman, Christopher's father, was a soldier too. So was his grandfather and great-grandfather.

"It's in his DNA," Tony said.

"He was against bullies, and the way he saw things was the invasion by Russia on Ukraine was them being bullies."

Tony said that despite all of the hurt, he is really proud of his son: "I salute the boy."

Dorothy Perryman only found out Christopher had started fighting on the front lines after he had died

Mr Perryman's mother, Dorothy, thought he was out in Ukraine training people to fight.

"I'm very, very proud of him," she said. "But I'm very cross with him as well because he died, and he shouldn't have.

"He died protecting people that needed protecting.

"He's left a legacy that we're all proud of and his son can be very, very proud as he gets older."

Christopher also volunteered with an organisation that helped animals in war zones

A Foreign Office spokesperson previously said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Ukraine."

The UK government currently advises against all travel to Ukraine.